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Historical and Topographical 



GUIDE 



TO 



VALLEY FORGE 



BY 

W. Herbert Burk. B. D. 

Rector of the Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge. 

Dean of the Convocation of Norristown. 

Member of the Historical Societies of Pennsylvania and 

Montgomery County. 

Honorary Member of the Gloucester County Historical Society, N.J. 



FOURTH EDITION - REVISED AND ENLARGED 

ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR 

AND OTHERS 



NORRISTOWN, PA. 

TIMES PUBLISHING CO. 

1916 






COPYRIGHT, 1906. 1910. 1912. 1916 
BY 

W. Herbert Burk 






DEC 27 1916 

©CI.A453856 



PREFACE. 



In the following pages I have endeavored to supply that 
information which will be of most value to the visitor to Valley 
Forge. Without some such guidance much of the interest 
which belongs to the place is lost, as I know from personal ex- 
perience. My endeavor has been to connect the living per- 
sonality of the men of the Revolution with the objects which 
remain. Unfortunately no one has attempted this, and conse- 
quently much time and labor have been spent in gathering 
the information which would enable me to do it. Incomplete 
as the work is, I offer it to the American people in the hope 
that its pages may bring to them something of the enthusiasm 
which its preparation has brought me. 

I am indebted to Mr. Edson J. Weeks tor permission to 
use the picture of Washington's Headquarters and to Prof. 
Jesse E. Philips for the use of his copy of Peale's portrait of 
Washington. 

W. Herbert Burk. 
All Saints* Rector}), 
April 23, 1906. 



<3 



PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



The development at Valley Forge, both in the Park and 
at the Washington Memorial Chapel, has been so rapid that 
a new edition of the Valley Forge Guide is demanded. 
In its preparation I have availed myself of the important re- 
searches made by Dr. John W. Jordan for the Valley Forge 
Commission for the brigade markers, and desire to express my 
gratitude for Dr. Jordan's work and my indebtedness to him. 
I also gratefully acknowledge the courtesy of Mrs. William 
Benton Greene, Jr., in allowing me to reproduce the portrait 
of General Greene owned by her. To Harper & Brothers, 
for the permission to copy Lossing's drawing of Washington's 
tents; to the Reading Railway Company, and to the Phoenix- 
ville, Valley Forge and Strafford Railway Company, for the 
use of maps, I am grateful for these important additions to the 
value and interest of the GUIDE. 

W. Herbert Burk. 
All Saints' Rectory, 
May 10, 1910. 



(4) 



HOW TO REACH VALLEY FORGE. 

Valley Forge is on the Reading Division of the Philadelphia 
and Reading Railway, 23.6 miles from Philadelphia. There are 
several trains each way, daily. The single fare is $0.59 and the 
round trip $1.18. The ten-trip ticket (good for parties) is $4.72. 

Special rates are made to organizations, Sunday schools, etc., 
from any point on the Reading System, on application to the 
General Passenger Agent, Reading Terminal, Philadelphia. 

The Headquarters and the entrance to the Park are near the 
station. The location of the stations and their relation to the 
encampment are shown by the small map. 

Valley Forge can also be reached by the Pennsylvania 
Railroad, from Broad Street Station. Betzwood is the station 
for the State Park. It is 21.7 miles from Philadelphia. The 
single fare is $0.54 ; the round trip $1.08, and the ten-trip $4.30. 
(good for parties). The Right Line Boulevard entrance is a 
little over a half-mile from Betzwood Station. The Head- 
quarters are two and a half-miles from Betzwood. 

The only trolley line to Valley Forge is that of the Phoenix- 
ville, Valley Forge and Strafford Electric Railway, connecting- 
Valley Forge and Phcenixville. The Phcenixville terminus is 
Bridge and Starr Streets. 

Cars run every hour on the hour. Fare, one way $0.10, 
round trip, $0.15. 

The company's map, showing actual and contemplated' lines, 
is on page 9. 

City Hall, Philadelphia, Broad Street, to Spring Garden, to 
Lemon Hill, to Girard Avenue Bridge, to Belmont Avenue, to 
Conshohocken Road, to Philadelphia, Bala and Bryn Mawr Turn- 
pike, through Bryn Mawr to Gulph Mills, Gulph Road through 
King of Prussia, road to right to Park entrance, or on to Port 
Kennedy, then right on River Road. 

City Hall, Market Street to Lancaster Avenue, over Lancaster 
Pike to Bryn Mawr, right to Montgomery Avenue, to Gulph Mills, 
Gulph Road through King of Prussia to Valley Forge. 



(5) 



6 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

City Hall, Broad Street, to Vine, to Parkway, to Park Drive, 
to Ridge Avenue, to Norristown, to Jeffersonville, to Port 
Kennedy, to River Road to Valley Forge. 

City Hall, Broad Street, west on Spring Garden Street to 
Fairmount Park, right at Lincoln Avenue, to Girard Avenue, 
right under bridge, through Park to Belmont Avenue, to City 
Line, to Overbrook, to Lancaster Turnpike, to Devon, right to 
Valley Forge Park. 

Tourists using the Lincoln Highway should leave the High- 
way at Devon Garage, turning right, if going from Philadelphia, 
left if going to Philadelphia. A State Highway, steep with many 
curves, leads to the Valley Forge Park at the Washington Re- 
doubt. 

AUTOMOBILE LINES. 

Thk Brown Line. 

Passing through Fairmount Park to Overbrook, through 
Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Wayne, Straf- 
ford, Devon to Valley Forge, making the entire Park Drive; 
covering every point of interest. Returning by King of Prussia 
through the Gulph Mills. Fourteen-passenger touring cars are 
used on this trip. Fair, round trip, $2.00. Cars leave Gimbel 
Brothers store, 9th and Market Streets, daily at 10 A. M. Re- 
turn to Philadelphia at 5 P. M. 

Note. — In engaging any automobile visitors should stipulate 
that ample time is allowed to see the Valley Forge Museum. 

HOTELS. 

"The Washington Inn." near the Headquarters. 
"The Valley Forge Inn," near the Headquarters. 
"The Mansion House," in Valley Forge. 
"The Port Kennedy Inn," at Port Kennedy Station. 
"The King of Prussia Inn," King of Prussia. 
"The Globe Hotel," Centreville. 

TEA ROOM. 

The Camp Tea House, in a large grove opposite the Camp 
School, is open daily. 

On several farms in the neighborhood there are excellent 
accommodations for boarders. Address, Mrs. John W. Andrews, 
or Mrs. William M. Stephens, Port Kennedy, Pa. 



WHAT TO SEE AT VALLEY FORGE. 

Washington's Marquee. (Valley Forge Museum.) 

Washington's Headquarters. Open daily from 8 
A. M. to 6 P. M. (Summer Schedule.) 

The Earthworks. 

The Washington Memorial Chapel. Open daily 
from 8 A.M. to 6 P. M. 

The Cloister of the Colonies. 

The Valley Forge Museum of American History. 
Open daily, except Sunday, from 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. 

The Soldiers' Hut. (Reproduction.) 

The Camp School. 

The Waterman Monument. 

The Wayne Monument. 

The Muhlenberg Monument. 

The Delaware Marker. 

The Maine Marker. 

The Massachusetts Monument. 

The New Jersey Monument. 

The Pennsylvania Columns. 

The Monument to the Unknown Dead. 

The Brigade Hospital. (Reproduction.) 

Headquarters of Commanding Officers. (No admis- 
sion.) 

View from the Observatory on Mount Joy. 

The Defenders' Gate. 



(8) 



HOW TO SEE VALLEY FORGE. 

Those who have only a limited time should visit the in- 
trenchments, Huntington Redoubt, the Star Redoubt, Varnum's 
Headquarters, the Defenders' Gate, the Soldiers' Hut, the 
Waterman Monument, the Cloister of the Colonies, the Wash- 
ington Memorial Chapel, the Valley Forge Museum, Washing- 
ton's Marquee and Washington's Headquarters. This can be 
done hurriedly in two hours. 

Those who can spare more time should turn back after visit- 
ing the Museum, turn to the left at Washington Lane, visit the 
Old School, go up the Gulph Road to the Camp Road, follow this 
to Washington Redoubt, go over the Inner Line Boulevard, and 
then to Washington's Headquarters, either by the River Road or 
the boulevard. 

This book describes the tour of the entire encampment and 
a visit to Lafayette's Headquarters. 



AUTOMOBILES AND CARRIAGES. 

As there are five miles of boulevard and three miles or so 
of other roads over which one must pass to see all the points of 
interest in the encampment, most people will prefer to make the 
tour in automobiles or carriages. 

Automobiles meet the trains. They may be engaged at the 
Valley Forge Garage, Washington Inn, or the Garages in Nor- 
ristown, Phcenixville or towns on the Main Line, For large 
parties H. O. Dengler. Norristown, can supply White Auto- 
mobile Busses, and J. H. Jarrett, Norristown, Packard Motor 
Coaches holding from twenty to thirty passengers. Carriages, 
coaches or brakes mav be secured from the same reliable firms. 



do; 




Map Showing how Points of Interest at Valley Forge 
may be Reached by the Phoenixville, Valley Forge 
and Strafford Railway. By courtesy of the Company 




"Valley Forge" 

The Washington-Burk "Memorial, by Franklin Simmons, Rome, 

in the Washington Memorial Chapel. 



THE PLACE OF VALLEY FORGE IN AMERI- 
CAN HISTORY. 

THE year 1776 was a disheartening one for the American 
patriot, despite the boldness of the Declaration of In- 
dependence. The British had seized New York, and 
Washington, unsupported by Lee, was compelled to re- 
treat through New Jersey. Congress, terror-stricken at the 
thought of the approach of the British army, had fled to Balti- 
more, and it seemed to many as if the cause of Liberty had 
been lost. Washington felt that "no man had a greater choice 
of difficulties, and less means to extricate himself from them." 
Certainly no man could do more with little. In ten days by a 
master stroke he wrested from Howe almost all the fruits of 
a long summer campaign. With only a portion of his small 
army he crossed the Delaware and pierced the British center, 
eluded Cornwallis at Trenton and struck another blow at 
Princeton, forcing the British to evacuate New Jersey, reani- 
mating his disheartened troops, giving new courage to Con- 
gress, reviving patriotism and discouraging Toryism. 

The British plan of action for 1777 was to subdue New 
England by separating it entirely from the other States. To 
this end Burgoyne was to lead an army down from Canada, 
capturing Ticonderoga on the way, St. Leger was to seize Fort 
Stanwix, and to march down the Mohawk Valley, and Howe 
was to ascend the Hudson, all finally concentrating at Albany 
for a descent upon the Eastern States. The plan was not 
carried out. St. Leger's expedition was an absolute failure, 
largely due to Herkimer's bravery and Arnold's strategy, and 
Burgoyne, deprived of the support of St. Leger and Howe, lost 
his army at Saratoga. For Howe, instead of ascending the 
Hudson, as planned and as Washington expected, sailed for the 
Delaware, then on to the Chesapeake, and landed at Elkton, 
August 25th, x to advance against the "rebel capital." On the last 
day of July, Washington learned that the fleet was off the 

(13) 



14 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Delaware capes and at once hurried to protect Philadelphia, 
passing through that city on his way to the Chesapeake. 

The first engagement took place at Chadd's Ford, on the 
Brandywine, where one division was routed, and the main 
body of the American army was compelled to retreat, the defeat 
being largely due to Howe's Tory guides, whose intimate knowl- 
edge of the country made it possible for him to make the 
detour by which he surprised Sullivan's right wing. Washing- 
ton fell back to Philadelphia for one day's rest, and encamped 
at Schuylkill Falls. Howe attempted to cut off his retreat, 
but Washington moved up the Schuylkill Valley and crossed 
the river at Matson's Ford (Conshohocken), on the 15th of 
September. The next day he hurried along the old Lancaster 
road in order to prevent Howe from taking a position be- 
tween him and Swedes' Ford (Bridgeport). That night the 
army encamped between Warren Tavern and White Horse 
Tavern. Here a battle was imminent. The American picket 
was driven in by the British, and this seemed to be the pre- 
lude to a sharp engagement, as the enemy had marched from 
Concord with the evident intention of turning the American 
right flank. The rain, which began about the time of the first 
fire, increased in violence, and the American ammunition was 
soon useless. Washington, therefore, retreated to Yellow 
Springs and Warwick Furnace, at which latter place cannon 
were cast for the army, leaving Wayne at Paoli. Wayne was 
surprised, and sustained such a brutal attack as to win for it 
the title of the "Massacre of Paoli." Recrossing the Schuylkill 
at Parker's Ford, the Americans passed through Trappe on 
the Reading turnpike, to Perkiomen Creek. On the 21st the 
British made a feint of marching against Reading, a depot 
of supplies, so Washington hastened to Pottsgrove (Pottstown), 
near which place the army was encamped for several days. 
Instead of doing what Washington expected they 'encamped 
along the road from French Creek (Phoenixville) to Valley 
Forge. It was at this time that the Valley forge was de- 
stroyed. On the 23d the British army crossed Fatland Ford 



VALLEY' FORGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. 



15 



and encamped that night on Stony Creek (Norristown), march- 
ing thence to Germantown. On the 26th Lord Cornwallis took 
possession of Philadelphia. 




Fatland Ford, where the British Crossed. 



During all these movements Washington's men suffered 
severely, being poorly clad and having but few blankets. At 
least one thousand men made these marches with bare feet. 
Undaunted by their sufferings the Americans marched to Penny- 
packer's Mills (Schwenksville), and after a brief rest, on to 
Skippack and Worcester. From thence the army moved at 
seven o'clock on October 3d to attack the British at Ger- 
mantown. That brilliant attempt ended in failure, and Wash- 
ington retreated to the camp on the Perkiomen. 

After three days' rest the army was again on the march, 



1 6 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

moving toward Philadelphia. On October 8th it was at Towa- 
mencin, where a week was spent. The next stop was at Wor- 
cester, where the army received the joyful news of the sur- 
render of Burgoyne. Whitpain was the next halting place. 
During this halt General Wayne was tried by a court-martial 
on the charge of neglect of duty at Paoli and was "acquitted 
with the highest honor." On November 2d the army went 
into camp at Whitemarsh. While encamped there Howe 
marched out from Philadelphia (December 4th) to make a night 
attack on the American army. News of this plan was brought 
to Washington, by Mrs. Lydia Darrah, some say, and conse- 
quently the army was on the alert. After manoeuvring for a 
few days Howe returned to the city without attempting to attack 
Washington. This practically ended the campaign of 1777. 

On December nth the army evacuated the camp at White- 
marsh and marched to Matson's Ford. The first division had 
crossed and part of the second when a force under Lord Corn- 
wallis was discovered on the heights on both sides of the 
Gulph Road. Under the impression that the British had again 
left Philadelphia the troops recrossed the river and the army 
moved up to Swedes' Ford (Ford street, Norristown), where it 
crossed during the night of the 12th and the morning of the 
13th, and then took position at Gulph Mills. This seems to- have 
been considered as a site for the winter encampment, but the 
army remained there less than a week, suffering severely from 
exposure. The final march of the year was from Gulph Mills to 
Valley Forge, the site selected for the winter quarters of the 
army. It is supposed that Valley Forge was selected on the 
recommendation of General Wayne, whose home was near at 
hand, and who well knew the country. Here six months were 
spent, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778 — the most 
critical period of American history. 

Dark as were the days at Morristown, when Paine wrote, 
"These are the times that try men's souls," those at Valley 
Forge were darker, indeed the darkest that America has seen. 
The short enlistments, largely due to the terrifying vision af 
a standing army, were a constant source of weakness and ex- 
pense. The depreciation of the paper currency made the poor 



VALLEY FORGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. 



17 



pay of the soldier only a starving wage, and officers were com- 
pelled to resign because they had not the means to eke out 
their expenses. Congress held out no hope of a future recog- 
nition of services rendered such as have at other times re- 
lieved the soldier of concern for his future or for that of those 
dependent upon him. The foolish arrangement by which each 
State was to have its quota of promotions deprived the army 
of the advantage of officers of the highest merit and was a con- 
stant source of irritation. 




The Overhanging Rock on the Gulph Road. 



The poor soldiers were the helpless victims of a meddling 
Congress and an incompetent commissary department. While 
the whole country was fairly prosperous the men at Valley 
Forge starved. While they froze to death "hogsheads of shoes, 
stockings, and clothing were lying at different places on the 



I 8 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

roads and in the woods, perishing for want of teams, or of 
money to pay the teamsters." On the 23d of December, Wash- 
ington reported to Congress that "Two thousand eight hundred 
and ninety-eight were unfit for duty, because barefoot or 
otherwise naked. Only eight thousand two hundred men were 
present for duty." It is estimated that three thousand men 
perished on these hills during the six months of the encamp- 
ment, while in the twenty-six principal engagements of the 
Revolution the number of killed and wounded did not greatly 
exceed nine thousand! 

During these months the cause of American independence 
was endangered by a diabolic plot to supplant Washington. 
The "Conway Cabal," as it was called, had eager supporters in 
Congress and the army, and for awhile it seemed as if its evil 
design would be accomplished. It was an added burden for 
Washington to bear. "The intrigue against him he watched 
in stern silence till it was ripe and evident, then he crushed 
it with sudden exposure, and turned away in contempt, hardly 
so much as mentioning it in his letters to his friends." 

The weakest point was Congress. Its best men were in the 
army, or at home busily engaged in the effort to establish State 
governments. A mere handful of men gathered in York, often 
not enough for a quorum. These had little power and often 
less judgment. They could only advise the States and their 
advice was not much heeded. There was in fact no central 
government. 

If these were the darkest days theirs was the darkness 
which precedes the dawn. The first sign of this was the realiza- 
tion on the part of the American people of the character of 
Washington. "As the silly intrigues against him recoiled upon 
their authors, men began to realize that it was far more upon 
his consummate sagacity and unselfish patriotism than upon 
anything that Congress could do that the country rested its 
hopes of success in the great enterprise which it had under- 
taken. As the nullity of Congress made it ever more apparent 
that the country as a whole was without a government, Wash- 
ington stood forth more and more conspicuously as the living 
symbol of the union of the States. In him and his work were 



VALLEY FORGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. 19 

centered the common hopes and the common interests of all 
the American people." 

While this change was being made in the minds of the 
people, Washington, with the help of Steuben, was making the 
army ready for its greater deeds. The days at Valley Forge 
were busy with preparation. New tactics were introduced, 
the arms were improved, and the discipline made more strict. 
Here the little State armies were welded into the army of the 
United States. 

Finally, upon these hills the patriots of America beheld 
the sunrise of national glory. On February 6, 1778, the treaties 
of amity and commerce between France and the United States 
were signed. As the late Secretary Hay has happily expressed 
it : "The act of France gave us a standing abroad which we 
had hitherto lacked. A man's character is made by himself; 
his reputation exists in the minds of others. Our Declaration 
asserted our independence, the French alliance proved it. Even 
before 1776 we were a nation; but until our treaties with 
France the world regarded us as a rebellion." 




Cheque for $120,000 Paid to Lafayette for His Services in 

the War of the Revolution. Original in the Valley 

Forge Museum of American History 




— 



3 . 



< D-i 

> _ 



THE VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER 
ROAD. 

The Entrance to Valley Forge Park. — The State of 
Pennsylvania, through the Valley Forge Park Commission, has 
acquired the land adjoining the Valley Forge station of the 
Philadelphia and Reading Railway and has made a driveway 
from the station to the intrenchments. This is the most direct 
route to the points of interest and affords some beautiful views 
of the river. 

Those who do not expect to return to the station should 
visit Washington's Headquarters before going to the intrench- 
ments. It can be seen some four hundred feet to the west of the 
entrance to the Park. Others will find it more convenient to 
visit it after seeing as much of the encampment as their time 
permits. 

The road follows the line of the river and by easy grades 
surmounts the hill on which the fortifications were built. The 
hillside to the right is historic ground, for there once stood the 
huts of the Life Guard. 

The Life Guard. — This body of men had been organized 
in 1776, soon after the siege of Boston, and consisted of a 
major's command. Caleb Gibbs, of Massachusetts, was the 
first chief and bore the title of "captain commandant." He 
was also the disbursing agent for Washington's military family, 
as may be seen by referring to the reproduction of Washing- 
ton's accounts on page 22. The Guard consisted entirely of 
Virginians, but while here it was increased by the addition 
of one hundred men chosen from the troops of the different 
States. This augmented body was made a model corps for the 
execution of the manoeuvres of Baron Steuben. The first ex- 
hibition drill was given on April 6th. The men carried muskets 
and side arms. The uniform consisted of a blue coat with white 
facings, a white waistcoat, and breeches, black half-gaiters, 
and a cocked hat with a blue and white feather. A few of the 

(21) 



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VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 23 

men were mounted. One of the rosters of the Life Guard and 
other relics are on exhibition in the Valley Forge Museum, and 
the standard is carved on the screen of the President's Pew in 
the Washington Memorial Chapel. 

It is well worth stopping at this point to enjoy the view 
across the valley. In the near foreground the house with a 
cupola is the "Washington Inn," formerly the Mansion House 
of the Potts estate. Across the valley, perched on the steep 
slope of Mt. Misery, is the summer residence of Gen. B. F. 
Fisher. Near this is the famous Colonial Spring, the waters 
of which are so justly celebrated. The road winding toward 
the summit is used by the teams which haul stone to the 
crusher beyond the creek. 

Looking now toward the northeast the old Gulph road can 
be traced as it ascends the hill. It is crossed by the boule- 
vard almost at the point where the edge of the woods seems 
to cut it off. The only troops encamped on this side of the 
ridge, with the exception of the Life Guards, was General Mc- 
intosh's brigade. The site of the huts was about one thousand 
feet east of the reservoir. 

A good view of the river may be obtained by going out on 
the promontory only a few feet beyond. The striking structure 
of red brick in the near distance is the Roman Catholic Pro- 
tectory, founded by Archbishop Ryan as a reformatory for boys. 
Something over a half-mile down the river is the head of 
Jenkins Island, across which ran the old Colonial road, the 
river at that time being fordable on both sides of the island. 
This was the Fatland Ford by which the British crossed on 
September 23, 1777, on their march to Philadelphia. Just below 
the island the American troops built a bridge. 

The line of intrenchments begins on the crest of the hill. 

On the right of the boulevard is the Delaware Memorial, 
erected by the State of Delaware in memory of the Delaware 
troops at Valley Forge. This is not the site occupied by them, 
as that is not owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 
The memorial is a granite marker in the face of which is cut 
the following inscription : 



24 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



THE STATE OF DELAWARE 

ERECTS THIS MARKER IN MEMORY 

OF HER GALLANT SONS WHO ENDURED 

THE HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS 

OF THE MEMORABLE WINTER OF 

I77/-I7/8 ON THE HILLS OF 

VAT. LEV FORGE 



THE STATE OF DELAWARE 

21" THIS MARKER IN MCMORY 
OFHCRCALtAHTSO.SWHODiDUREO 

THE HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS 
0F THE MEMORABLE WINTER OF 
|77? J77B ON THE HILLS OF 

VALLEY FORCE. 
A.D.I9I3 



The Delaware Memorial. 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 2$ 

The Pennsylvania Militia Memorial. — On the left of 
the boulevard the State of Pennsylvania has placed a modest 
memorial of the Pennsylvania Militia and its commander, Major 
General John Armstrong, who defended the eastern approaches 
to the encampment. A plain granite marker bears a bronze 
tablet with the following inscription : 

MAJOR GENERAL JOHN ARMSTRONG 

IN COMMAND OF THE PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA 

GUARDED THE ROADS FROM PHILADELPHIA 

AND THE APPROACHES TO SULLIVAN'S BRIDGE 

AND THIS CAMP 

The boulevard now follows the line to the road, only a few 
hundred feet away. It crosses the road and follows the line of 
intrenchments to Washington Redoubt. To the right the road 
leads to the village of Valley Forge. To the left it leads to the 
Star Redoubt, Defenders' Gate, Waterman Monument, Cloister 
of the Colonies, Washington Memorial Chapel, Patriots' Hall 
and the village of Port Kennedy. Those desiring to make a 
tour of the camp should, therefore, turn to the left upon reach- 
ing the road. 

On the hill overlooking the road is one of the picturesque 
guardhouses built by the Valley Forge Park Commission for 
the protection of the guards. These men patrol the boulevards 
and preserve order throughout the Park. They are glad to give 
visitors information about the points of interest. 

The road was defended by two rifle-pits, which are plainly 
marked on the hillside. Farther down the road, on the right, is 
a battery, consisting of reproductions of the cannon of the period 
of the Revolution. Beyond on the slope of the hill are the 
remains of Huntington Redoubt. These can be better visited by 
taking the path from the boulevard, as described in the account 
of the Inner Line Boulevard, and need not detain the visitor at 
this point. 

This hillside has been the scene of two notable celebra- 
tions of the Evacuation of Valley Forge. The first and most 
imposing was that which took place in 1878. An early morn- 
ing reception given by Governor Hartranft and Major-General 



26 GLIDE TO V ALLEY FORGE. 

Winfield S. Hancock was followed by a memorial service and 
a review of the troops. In the afternoon Col. Theodore W. 
Bean read a long historical paper and Prof. W. Newton Meeks 
read Mrs. Mary E. Thropp Cone's Valley Forge Centennial 
Poem. The feature of the day was the masterly oration of Mr. 
Henry Armitt Brown, of Philadelphia. 

The celebration of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anni- 
versary was on a much smaller scale. It consisted of a memo- 
rial service in the morning, the laying of the corner-stone of 
the Washington Memorial Chapel at noon, and a patriotic 
service in the afternoon. At the morning service Rabbi Joseph 
Krauskopf made the address. In the afternoon addresses were 
made by Mr. Walter S. Logan, of New York; Miss Adaline W. 
Sterling, of New Jersey; Mrs. Donald McLane, of New York, 
and the Hon. C. Emory Smith, of Philadelphia. Poems by Mrs. 
Cone and Miss Margaret B. Harvey were read by Francis L. Ly- 
Darger. The musical part of the program was under the direction 
of Mr. John O. K. Robarts, of Phcenixville, Pa., who had 
served in the same capacity in 1878. 

Washington Lane. — Fifteen hundred feet from the boule- 
vard the River Road is crossed by the Washington Lane. This is 
the most direct route to the Camp School, the Artillery Park, 
Washington Redoubt, the Inner Line Boulevard, the Right Line 
Boulevard, Centreville and Devon. The Grand Parade, after 
June nth, was located in front of Conway's Brigade, the second 
from the River Road. 

The lane to the left is no longer a thoroughfare. This is to 
be regretted, as it is historic ground and should be open to the 
public. It was the old road leading to Fatland Ford, which 
crossed the river to Jenkins Island, and thence to the eastern 
bank. Along this road the British Army passed in September, 
1777, on its march to Philadelphia. 

Sullivan's Bridge. — The road was continued down to the 
military bridge which General Sullivan built 750 feet below the 
ford. The site of the bridge is marked by a stone on the bank, 
having the inscriptions : 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 2J 




Site of Sullivan's Bridge. 
(Date destroyed) 

SULLIVAN 
BRIDGE. 

A. D. I778. 
SPENCER 
BRIDGE. 



The Historical Society of Montgomery County has erected 
a more appropriate monument on the other bank. This society 
has also appointed a committee to carry into effect the sug- 
gestion of the Hon. Irving P. Wanger, that a memorial bridge 
be erected at this point. This project ought to commend itself 
to all patriotic Americans, and both the National and State Gov- 
ernments ought to co-operate in its erection. 



28 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



The military bridge was not built upon pontoons, as is 
sometimes stated, but on piles. I am told that portions of these 
were in position a few years ago. The flooring was made of 
split logs, the round to the water, held in place by wooden pegs. 
It is sometimes stated that General Sullivan did not take into 
consideration the masses of floating ice brought down by the 
spring freshets and that the roadway was not built far above 
the water, and consequently the bridge did not long survive its 




The Last of the Hut: 



use by the army. As a matter of fact the bridge was so well 
constructed that it endured for some time, and might have been 
a permanent structure if the Assembly of Pennsylvania had 
followed the advice of General Sullivan. When the Assembly 
was ready to act, it was too late, as the bridge was partly de- 
stroyed. But it had served its purpose, for upon it the Amer- 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 



2 9 



ican army crossed to intercept the march of the British to New 
York. 

Across it, too. came the welcome supplies for the starving 
soldiers. Every Monday and Thursday after February 8th a 
market was held, near the end of the bridge, and on those 
days the soldiers went a-marketing, or rather those who were 




Varnum's Headquarters. 

the proud possessors of spare money. A picket guarded the pas- 
sage of the bridge and ford, and prevented boats from going by. 
A guardhouse was built on this side of the river early in March. 
A little below the site of the bridge, but on this side of the 
railroad, were, as late as 191 1, the mouldering remains of what 
is said to have been one of the huts used by the picket. Up to 
a few years ago, when it was set on fire, it was in a fair state of 
preservation, having been used as a tenant house. 




o 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 



31 



Five hundred feet beyond Washington Lane, on the right, 
are a stone barn and house. Tradition declares that this barn 
was used as a hospital. 

General Varnum's Headquarters. — This house was the 
headquarters of Gen. James Mitchel Varnum, the brigadier- 
general commanding a brigade of Rhode Island and Connecticut 
troops. At that time the house was much smaller, the eastern 




The Star Redoubt. 



part and the third story having been added later. On the night 
of January 17th the brigadiers met here to consider how to ex- 
change raw hides for shoes, and whether to arm the soldiers 
with bayonets and the officers with espontons or pikes. Here, 
too, at another time, the rations of the soldiers were decided. 
On that happiest of Valley Forge days, when the French Al- 
liance was celebrated, Washington stopped here, then the Or- 



32 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



derly Office, to make the day complete by pardoning two men 
then in the provost guard under sentence of death for de- 
sertion. 

Star Redoubt. — The next point of interest is the site of 
the Star Redoubt, a few hundred feet beyond on the left. As 
late as 1850 its outlines were plainly marked. The present 
redoubt was constructed in 1916 by the Valley Forge Park 




KfillJil 







The Defenders' Gate 

Commission. The original redoubt with the Huntington and 
Washington redoubts completed the defenses of Mount Joy. 
The guns of this redoubt were intended not only to co- 
operate with those of the other redoubts in repelling an attack 
on the front, but also to command the approach from the other 
side of the Schuylkill by the Fatland Ford. The redoubt became 
of supreme importance when Sullivan's bridge was completed. 
Of course the erection of the dam when the canal was built has 
altered the river lines. 



Varnum's Brigade. — General Varnum's Brigade lay to 
the east of the redoubt on both sides of the road. The Park 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 33 

Commission has erected the brigade marker on the slope of 
the old earthwork. It bears the following inscription : 

CONTINENTAL ARMY 

VALLEY FORGE, DECEMBER IQ, I777 JUNE l8, I778 

DIVISION 

varnum's BRIGADE 

BRIG. GENERAL JAMES M. VARNUM 

COMMANDING 

1ST REGIMENT RHODE ISLAND INFANTRY, COL. CHRISTOPHER GREENE 

2D REGIMENT RHODE ISLAND INFANTRY, COL. ISRAEL ANGELL 

4TH REGIMENT CONNECTICUT INFANTRY, COL. JOHN DURKEE 

8TH REGIMENT CONNECTICUT INFANTRY, COL. JOHN CHANDLER 

The Defenders' Gate. — Beyond the Star Redoubt is 
the lodge of "The Defenders' Gate/' a national monument to 
the defenders of the Union — the heroes of three wars and the 
patriots of the Republic. This is at the entrance to the Wash- 
ington Memorial Cemetery, a part of which will be devoted to 
the interment of veterans of the Civil War and the War with 
Spain. 

The Defenders' Gate, when completed, will correspond with 
the "Cloister of the Colonies/' a short distance away, and will be 
one of the noblest monuments on this sacred spot. It will in- 
clude the gateway, waiting room and superintendent's lodge. 
The piers to the east of the lodge are a part of the "Lincoln 
Arch" which is being erected by the Grand Army of the Re- 
public, contributions being made for this purpose by the Posts 
throughout the country. 

That such a memorial as the Defenders' Gate is fitting 
no one can question who knows what Valley Forge is in Amer- 
ican life and progress. At the time of the Albany Congress, as 
far back as 1754, Benjamin Franklin was working for the union 
of the Colonies. In his Pennsylvania Gazette appeared a rude 
cut of a snake whose dissevered parts represented the Colonies, 
and under this were the words, "Unite or Die." When the 
American soldiers marched up the Gulph Road to Valley Forge 
they were the armies of Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, 
etc. When they marched across Sullivan's Bridge they were the 



34 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Army of the United States of America. Here the Declaration 
of Independence which proclaimed a new empire was realized 
first in a united army. 

The Gate occupies a commanding site in full view of the 
course taken by that united army, whose efforts resulted in a free 
and united people. 

President Roosevelt's Valley Forge Address. — 

One phase of the relation of the men of Valley Forge to the 
defenders of the Union was set forth in the address made 
by President Roosevelt in the temporary Washington Memorial 
Chapel on Evacuation Day, 1904. He said : 

"If the men of '61 had failed in the great struggle for 
national unity it would have meant that the work done by 
Washington and his associates might almost or quite as well have 
been left undone. There would have been no point in com- 
memorating what was done at Valley Forge if Gettysburg had 
not given us the national right to commemorate it. If we were 
now split up into a dozen wrangling little communities, if we 
lacked the power to keep away here on our continent, within 
our own lines, or to show ourselves a unit as against foreign 
aggression, then, indeed the Declaration of Independence would 
read like empty sound, and the Constitution would not be worth 
the paper upon which it was written, save as a study for anti- 
quarians." 

The Washington Memorial Cemetery. — The Park 
Commission has located so many graves that there is no longer 
any doubt that these hills are a vast cemetery in which lie 
the remains of the martyrs of '77 and '78. Associated in loca- 
tion and thought is the Washington Memorial Cemetery — conse- 
crated as God's Acre. This is the property of the congre- 
gation of the Washington Memorial Chapel, for the interment 
of its members, but it will be conducted as a general cemetery 
on modern lines. Most generously the congregation has devoted 
one acre for the interment of veterans of the Civil War and 
their widows, and another for the veterans of the Spanish- 
American War and their widows. This provision for the sol- 
diers' widows is as beautiful as it is unusual. 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 



35 



To keep the cemetery in the best of order perpetually a 
large percentage of all the money received from the sale of lots 
will be added to the Endowment Fund. Information in regard 
to the lots in the cemetery may be obtained at the Lodge. A 
driveway has been made from the Gate to the Chapel, passing 
under the Virginia Bay in the Cloister of the Colonies. This 
is open to the public, and affords a pleasant detour. 




Company Street and Hut. 



Soldiers' Huts. — The woodland, presented to the Trustees 
of the Washington Memorial Chapel by the Hon. William Uhler 
Hensel, is one of the most interesting spots in the whole encamp- 
ment. At the beginning of the wood turn to the left and follow 
the woodland road. In a few minutes you will reach a depres- 
sion in the earth. This is the first of the hut-holes or "cellars" 
as they are called. It is the site of one of the huts which were 



$6 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

built by the soldiers, and still shows the outline and size of the 
building. You are now standing on one of the company streets, 
and to the right and left as you advance other hut-holes will be 
seen. Almost at the end of the street, there being only two holes 
beyond, stands the hut erected by the Daughters of the Revolu- 
tion. Above the door is a tablet bearing the following inscrip- 
tion : 

on this spot stood one of the huts 

occupied by the soldiers of 

Washington's camp 

during the winter of i777-i778. 

this reproduction was erected by 

colonial chapter of philadelphia, 

daughters of the revolution, 

MAY, I905. 
SITE WAS PRESENTED BY I. HESTON TODD. 

It was dedicated on June 24, 1905, at which time a prayer 
was offered by the Rev. W. Herbert Burk, and addresses were 
made by Mrs. O. La Forrest Perry, Mrs. Nathaniel Seaver Keay, 
State Regent of the Daughters of the Revolution, and Mr. I. 
Heston Todd. 

The soldiers who occupied the original hut belonged to the 
4th Connecticut Regiment, as proven by the buttons found in the 
hut-hole, and now on exhibition in the Museum. 

This hut gives an excellent idea of what the huts of the 
soldiers at Valley Forge were, for explicit directions were 
given for their erection. "The quarters must be fourteen by 
sixteen feet each," say the orders; "the sides, ends and roofs 
made with logs ; the roof made tight with slabs, or some other 
way; the sides made tight with clay; a fire-place made of wood 
and secured with clay on the inside, eighteen inches thick; 
this fire-place to be on the rear of the huts; the door to be in 
the end next the street; the door to be made of split oak slabs, 
unless boards can be procured; the side walls to be six feet and 
a half high. The officers' huts are to form a line in the rear 
of the troops, one hut to be allowed to each general officer; one 
to the staff of each brigade; one to the field officers of each 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 2>7 

regiment, and one to every twelve non-commissioned officers and 
soldiers." 

The soldiers were divided into squads of twelve, and Wash- 
ington offered a reward of twelve dollars to the squad in each 
regiment which finished its hut in the quickest and most work- 
manlike manner. He also offered a reward of one hundred 
dollars to the officer or soldier who would invent a cheaper 
covering than boards. The inventors were to report their plans 
to Generals Sullivan, Greene and Lord Stirling. Temporarily 
the huts were covered with the tents. As large quantities of 
straw were needed for beds or for thatching the huts, if this 
plan were adopted, Washington ordered the farmers to thresh 
at once or the straw would be taken with the grain and paid 
for as straw. Broadsides to this effect were printed and posted 
throughout the neighboring country. 

Dr. Waldo has left us a description of the huts, but the one 
described in his lines was probably built for a hospital, such 
as that so admirably reproduced by the Park Commission near 
the Wayne Monument, as these were larger than the huts of 
the soldiers and had more windows. Dr. Waldo was a surgeon 
in General Huntington's brigade, and gained quite a reputation 
for his success in inoculating the soldiers against small-pox. 

"Of pondrous logs 
Whose bulk disdains the winds and fogs 
The sides and ends are fitly raised 
And by dove-tail each corner's brac'd : 
Athwart the roof, young saplings lie 
Which fire and smoke has now made dry — 
Next straw wraps o'er the tender pole, 
Next earth, then splints o'erlay the whole ; 
Although it leaks when show'rs are o'er, 
It did not leak two hours before. 
Two chimneys plac'd at op'site angles 
Keep smoke from causing oaths and wrangles. 

Three windows, placed all in sight, 
Through oiled paper give us light; 
One door, on wooden hinges hung, 
Let in the friend, or sickly throng." 



38 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

On the whole the huts were very comfortable, as is testi- 
fied in numerous letters written from Valley Forge. When the 
weather grew warmer the soldiers were ordered to open the 
chinks to let in more air, and later the army abandoned the 
huts and pitched their tents. 

In huts such as this and upon this ground were encamped 
the Rhode Island troops under the command of Col. Christo- 
pher Greene, the hero of Fort Mercer. He and his four hun- 
dred men, behind unfinished earthworks, repulsed a well-dis- 
ciplined and well-equipped force of two thousand Hessians on 
the twenty-second of October, 1777, at Red Bank, N. J. The 
battle lasted less than an hour, but in that time these men 
added to the honor of the American soldier by making "one of 
the most glorious stands ever made by patriots fighting for 
home and country." 

Visitors will find interesting relics of these heroes in the 
Valley Forge Museum, including a letter reporting the action 
to Governor Wharton, of Pennsylvania. 

Steuben's Kitchen. — On some of the maps this part of 
the encampment is designated as the sites of officers' huts, and 
tradition has placed "Steuben's Kitchen" in this grove. It is 
said that when the Baron entered the American service he was 
accompanied by a very expert chef. Upon reaching Valley 
Forge the great general was assigned to one of these huts. 
The next morning, in order to prepare for his master's breakfast, 
the chef asked to be shown the kitchen in which his labors 
were to be performed. He was taken to a spot under the trees 
where an iron pot was suspended from sticks above a fireplace 
of stones. When he was assured that this was the kitchen, he 
promptly took leave of his master to return to a less barbarous 
mode of life than that offered at Valley Forge. Be this as it 
may, his master remained to do noble service in the cause of 
human liberty. By his skill and perseverance order was 
brought out of chaos, discipline was established, a uniform 
system of tactics was adopted, and a mass of untrained men 
made into that splendid army which thwarted the treachery of 
Lee at Monmouth and there and elsewhere won those victories 
which culminated at Yorktown. Only those who know what he 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 39 

did for the cause of Liberty can appreciate the debt of honor 
which the American people owe to Frederick William Augustus 
Henry Ferdinand von Steuben, aide-de-camp to Frederick the 
Great, who voluntarily placed at the disposal of Congress his 
great gifts and his wide experience. 

Whether Major-General Nathanael Greene occupied a hut, as 
his biographer states, or the residence of Isaac Walker, as Mr. 
Wm. John Campbell declares, I am unable to determine. If he 
did occupy a hut it was here. In a letter to his brother he says : 




Waterman's Grave. 

"We are all going into log-huts — a sweet life after a most 
fatiguing campaign." Mrs. Greene came to camp in January 
and helped to dispel the gloom of the dreary winter. Know- 
ing some French and being a woman of bright parts and a gay 
manner she attracted to her husband's quarters Lafayette and 
the other foreign officers, including Steuben, Duponceau, de 
Kalb, Fleury, Duplessis, and the gallant Pulaski. Often Wash- 
ington and his wife were the guests of honor. 




The Waterman Monument. 



VALLEY FORGE PARK AND RIVER ROAD. 4 1 

In one of his letters General Greene says : "Colonel Greene 
and all his officers are coming home to recruit a negro regiment. 
Will they succeed or not?" This movement had been sug- 
gested by General Varnum, and in it Col. John Laurens took 
the keenest interest. The movement was entirely successful. 
The slaves who enlisted received their freedom, and their bravery 
and heroic service during the war proved the wisdom of General 
Varnum's plan. Their owners were compensated for the loss 
of their service. 

In March, Greene, who commanded the division consisting 
of Muhlenberg's and Weedon's brigades, was made Quarter- 
master-General, but retained his right to command in the field. 
The good results from this appointment were set forth a few 
months later by Washington in a letter to the President of 
Congress. 

Gen. Alexander MacDougall was another officer to make his 
winter home in one of these huts. His patriotism had been 
tried by twenty-three weeks of imprisonment before it was 
tested here, that being the penalty which the New York As- 
sembly imposed upon him for his address, "A Son of Liberty 
to the Betrayed Inhabitants of the Colony," published when 
the Assembly failed to protest against the usurpations of the 
Crown. As his imprisonment took place before the famous shot 
at Lexington he is sometimes called "the first martyr to the 
patriot cause." He became colonel of the first New York regi- 
ment, and was later made a brigadier. Two months before the 
army came to Valley Forge he was made a major-general. 

A Soldier's Grave. — Among those who occupied these 
huts was Lieut. John Waterman, whose death is announced in 
this characteristic soldier's letter: 

"Camp Valley Forge, Apl. 24th, 1778. 
"Dear Sir: 

"Captain Tew and myself arrived safe to post the 226. in- 
stant, found the encampment in perfect tranquility and the 
enemy peaceable in their quarters. Am sorry to inform you that 
yesterday died of a short illness that worthy gentleman John 
Waterman Esqr. Commissary of our brigade. 

"Humble servant 

"William Allen. 



42 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

"N. B. — Have returned yaur bill to Capt. Olney, as it would 
not pass in Pennsylvania. 

"Theodore Foster, Esq." 

So frequent had been the deaths in camp, three thousand 
dying in six months, that a few days before Lieutenant Water- 
man's death the following order had been issued : 

"The Funeral honours at the Interment of officers, are for 
the future, to be confined to a solemn procession of officers and 
Soldiers, in Numbers suitable to the Rank of the Deceas'd, with 
revers'd arms. Fireing on these occasions is to be abolish'd in 
Camp." 

If we follow that silent procession across the road, and 
down the path to the monument we will find where his comrades 
laid his body. Some one erected the rough stone and cut on it 
the initials, "J. \\\, 1778," thus making it the only named grave 
at Valley Forge. 

The Waterman Monument. — The monument which 
rises above it is one of the conspicuous landmarks at Valley 
Forge. It is an imposing granite shaft, fifty feet high, erected 
by the Daughters of the Revolution in memory of the martyrs 
of Valley Forge. It stands on a piece of ground thirty by 
thirty-three feet square, with an approach from the road ten 
feet wide and three hundred and sixty-one feet long, given by 
Mr. I. Heston Todd. Mr. Todd later deeded to the Society 
additional ground on which are placed the historic cannon 
loaned by the Girard Estate. 

The obelisk rests upon a base ten feet square, raised upon 
a plinth with three gradations. On the face of the plinth is 
the following inscription : 

TO THE SOLDIERS OF WASHINGTON'S ARMY 

WHO SLEEP AT VALLEY FORGE, IJ/J-I'/'/S. 

ERECTED BY THE 

DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Set in the base is a large bas-relief in bronze representing 
the Valley Forge encampment. Above this is a bronze seal of 
the Society. The Colonial flag is carved on the obelisk. 



44 WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 

The dedication took place on October 19, 1901. Mr. Todd 
made the presentation of the deed, and addresses were made 
by the Hon. William A. Stone, Governor of Pennsylvania ; the 
Hon. Boies Penrose, Mr. Peter Boyd and Miss Adaline Wheelock 
Sterling, President-General of the Daughters of the Revolu- 
tion. As Governor Stone unveiled the shaft he said : "On 
behalf of the Daughters of the Revolution I dedicate this monu- 
ment to the heroic dead of Valley Forge." 

On the south side of the plinth is another inscription, as 
follows : 

NEAR THIS SPOT LIES LIEUTENANT JOHN WATERMAN. 
DIED APRIL 23, I778, 
WHOSE GRAVE ALONE OF ALL HIS COMRADES WAS MARKED. 

Huntington's Headquarters. — The house in the valley 
was for many years the residence of the late Mr. I. Heston Todd, 
at one time a member of the Valley Forge Park Commission, 
and at all times deeply interested in the preservation of these 
historic spots, as is attested by his gifts of the ground for the 
Waterman Monument, the Washington Memorial Chapel, and 
the Soldiers' Hut. To the west of the present building stood 
the headquarters of General Jedidiah Huntington, a native of 
Norwich, Conn. He graduated from Harvard when he was 
twenty years old and was associated with his father in business. 
An active Son of Liberty he raised a regiment of which he 
became captain and joined the army at Cambridge. On May 
12, 1777, he was appointed brigadier-general. He served in the 
court-martial which tried Gen. Charles Lee for misconduct at 
Monmouth and in that which condemned Major Andre to death. 

General Huntington is described as a man "small in 
stature, but of great energy, steadiness and dignity, very neat 
and precise in his personal appearance, and polished, though 
reserved in his demeanor." He was very religious, liberal and 
charitable. While at Valley Forge he formed a strong friend- 
ship for Lafayette, Steuben and Pulaski, who in later years 
were his honored guests. 



THE WASHINGTON 
MEMORIAL 



THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 

CLOISTER OF THE COLONIES, PATRIOTS' 

HALL AND WASHINGTON MEMORIAL 

LIBRARY. 

RETURNING to the road the next objects of interest 
are the Cloister of the Colonies, the Washington Memo- 
rial Chapel and Patriots' Hall. In the course of studies 
in the history of the Church in America the writer 
was impressed with the religious character of the men who 
made the Nation. This led him to a more careful study of the 
religious character of Washington, and on Sunday, February 
22, 1903, in a sermon in All Saints' Church, Norristown, on 
"Washington the Churchman," he spoke of Washington's wor- 
ship at Valley Forge and said, "Would that there we might rear 
a wayside chapel, fit memorial of the Church's most honored 
son, to be the Nation's Bethel for all days to come, where the 
American patriot might kneel in quest of that courage and that 
strength to make all honorable his citizenship here below, and 
prove his claim to that above !" The sermon was printed in The 
Norristown Daily Herald, and the suggestion was commended 
by the press throughout the country. From that day the 
writer has striven to give permanence to his conception. The 
Sunday School Association of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, to 
which the subject was referred, recommended the establish- 
ment of a Sunday school, and after some delay this was done, 
the first service being held in the Valley Forge Hall on May 
17, I903- Mr. and Mrs. I. Heston Todd and Mr. and Mrs. John 
Hallman offered sites for the building, and the Rt. Rev. Alex- 

(46) 







ffl s 



48 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

ander Mackay- Smith, D. D., Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese 
of Pennsylvania, selected the one on which the chapel stands. 
The laying of the corner-stone formed a part of the program 
of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the Evacua- 
tion of Valley Forge. Mr. Todd presented the deed for the 
ground, which was accepted by the Rt. Rev. O. W. Whitaker, 
D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, who then laid the 
stone. This was the gift of the Rt. Rev. Alexander Mackay- 
Smith, D. D., Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese. 

The purpose of the Washington Memorial Chapel was set 
forth in the words used by the Bishop in laying the corner- 
stone, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost, Amen. I lay the corner-stone of an edifice to be 
here erected by the name of the Washington Memorial Chapel, 
to be devoted to the service of Almighty God, agreeably to the 
principles of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
States of America, in its doctrine, ministry, liturgy, rites and 
usages; and in memory of George Washington, communicant 
and lay reader of this Church, and the patriot churchmen and 
churchwomen who served their God and Country in the 
struggle for Liberty." 

The Rev. C. Ellis Stevens, LL. D., D. C. L., Rector of Christ 
Church, Philadelphia, in which Washington was a frequent 
worshipper, delivered an able address on "The Christianity of 
Washington." About two hundred clergy and choristers took 
part in the service. 

Perpendicular Gothic was selected as the style of archi- 
tecture for the chapel as being the best adapted for the object 
and use of the building. Dr. Charles C. Harrison, Provost of 
the University of Pennsylvania, requested Prof. Warren P. 
Laird to act as the representative of the Department of Archi- 
tecture of the University and to pass judgment upon the de- 
signs submitted. In his report Professor Laird thus speaks of the 
successful design, that of Field and Medary, Philadelphia: 

"Its ensemble expresses truthfully the theme of the com- 
petition; a memorial chapel with auxiliary structures. The 
chapel dominates the group while not overpowering it, and the 
tower, higher than the chapel and sufficient to its purpose as 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 49 

an observatory, is placed at the right point to complete the 
balance of the group. This is as simple in plan as it is effective 
in mass. The chapel, while pure in historic character and fine 
in proportion, has an expression of dignity, repose and strength, 
which it would be difficult to carry further toward harmony 
with the sentiment of Valley Forge. In its wall and win- 
dow treatment t^ere is presented, as nearly as possible in 
a place intended for worship rather than defense, the mediaeval 
approach of the church to fortress building. The other por- 
tions of the group are true in character and in proportion with 
the chapel. The plan arrangement of this group combines 
more of simplicity, compactness and economy, both of con- 
struction and administration, than any other in the competi- 
tion. In architectural quality it is scholarly and tasteful to an 
unusual degree and possesses real charm and distinction." 

The design was the work of Mr. Milton B. Medary, Jr., to 
whose great ability and painstaking care the Nation is indebted 
for the dignity and beauty of this remarkable memorial group. 
Mr. Medary is now a member of the firm of Zantzinger, Borie 
& Medary, of Philadelphia, under which the work has been 
continued. 

Unfortunately the money required to carry out the plans 
was not secured, and the work was retarded. In order that 
the building might be used while the funds were being secured 
a temporary roof was put in place and the interior stone work 
finished up to the sill lines. At last, in 1912, work on the walls 
was resumed, and the window tracery set to the transom bar. 

A new impetus was given to the work by the appointment 
by the Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Garland, D.D., Bishop Suffragan, of 
the Diocese of Pennsylvania, of a large and influential committee, 
through whose efforts several thousand dollars were raised. 
Finally, on March 3, 1914, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Custis Harrison 
organized the following Committee through whose untiring 
efforts the Chapel has been completed : Stevens Heckscher, Esq., 
Chairman; the Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Garland, Dr. Charles Custis 
Harrison, Mrs. Charles Custis Harrison, George A. Elliott. Esq., 
the Rev. W. Herbert Burk, Mr. Milton B. Medarv. Tr., and 



50 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Mr. Joseph M. Rogers, Secretary. The contract was awarded 
April 13, 1915. 

The First Service. — On Washington's Birthday, 1905, the 
first service was held in the partly built chapel. The service 
was made notable by the presence of the Rt. Rev. Robert At- 
kinson Gibson, D. D., Bishop of Virginia, in whose diocese are 
the two parishes of which Washington was a vestryman. In 
the course of an eloquent sermon on the character of Wash- 
ington the Bishop declared that he was the genius of this place 
— "the crowning glory of Valley Forge." 

The Cloister of the Colonies.— The "Cloister of the 
Colonies" is a unique monument of patriotism and the most 
beautiful memorial at Valley Forge. Each of the thirteen 
Colonies will be represented by a bay. The cloister forms a 
porte cochere to the chapel and one of the entrances to the 
Washington Memorial Cemetery, but its most important use will 
be in connection with the open air services, for which it is the 
chancel. The beautiful Open Air Pulpit faces the grove where 
already more than three thousand have gathered for a patriotic 
service. In time rows of oaks will form a great woodland 
cathedral for these services, while connected with it will be an 
evergreen chapel containing a bronze statue of Washington at 
prayer. 

Beginning at the front of the chapel the bays are New 
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia (the archway), Maryland, Massa- 
chusetts, Delaware, New York and Connecticut. New Hamp- 
shire is the first bay, architecturally, and it forms the entrance 
to the Chapel and the choir. Adjoining it is the South Carolina 
Bay. The Rhode Island, North Carolina and Georgia Bays are 
required to complete the Cloister of the Colonies. The Bays 
are built of Holmesburg granite and Indiana limestone. The 
floors are of Knoxville marble, and in the center of each is a 
large copy in brass of the Colonial seal. 

The ceilings, are of oak, hand-carved, and on the central boss 
of each are emblazoned the State arms. Over the arch of the 
Virginia bay are the arms of the Virginia Company, consisting 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 51 

of the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and France, and the 
motto : "En dat Virginia quintam." The motto is set between 
symbols representing the gifts of the English Church to Amer- 
ica, the arms of Canterbury and York, symbolizing the English 
Church ; the mitre, crozier and keys, the ministry ; the font and 




Facade of the Cloister. 

chalice, the sacraments ; the two books, the Bible, and Prayer 
Book. This bay, erected in 1907, marks the three hundredth anni- 
versary of the founding of Jamestown and the establishment of 
English life and institutions in America. Above the inner arch 
are the arms of Washington, the great Virginian. 

The New York Bay, the gift of the Society of the Colonial 
Dames of America, contains the open air pulpit. Above this 
are carved the 'arms of the Washington Memorial Chapel. 



52 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

The donors of the bays, and the dates of the dedications, are 
as follows : 

New Jersey Bay — Miss Sarah R. Chew, 1905. 

Pennsylvania Bay — Mr. T. Broom Belfield, 1906. 

Virginia Bay — Mr. George C. Thomas, 1907. 

Maryland Bay — Mr. James E. Mitchell, 1908. 

Massachusetts Bay — Massachusetts Society, Sons of the 
American Revolution, 1909. 

Delaware Bay — George A. Elliott, President of the Dela- 
ware Society, Sons of the American Revolution, 1912. 

New York Bay — The Society of the Colonial Dames of 
America, 1912. 

Connecticut Bay — The Patriotic Societies of Connecticut, 
The Order of the Cincinnati, The Sons of the Revolution, The 
Sons of the American Revolution, The Society of Colonial 
Wars, The Order of Founders and Patriots of America, The 
Military Order of Foreign Wars. 

New Hampshire Bay — Mr. Arthur E. Pearson, 1915. 

South Carolina — Two Families Prominent in the Colonial 
History of South Carolina, 1916. 



INSCRIPTIONS. 



New Jersey. 



TO THE GLORY OF GOD 

AND IN APPRECIATION OF THE 

PATRIOTISM AND DEVOTION 

OF THE SOLDIERS OF 

NEW JERSEY 

IN THE 

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION 

AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF 

STILLE CHEW AND REBECCA D. 

TURNER, HIS WIFE, OF 

WOODBURY, N. J., THIS 

BAY IS ERECTED BY 
SARAH R. CHEW, I905. 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 53 

Pennsylvania. 



TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND. IN 

HONOR OF THE BRAVE 

PENNSYLVANIANS 

WHOSE LIVES WERE GIVEN FOR 

THE BLESSINGS WE ENJOY, 

AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF HIS 

PARENTS, WIFE AND CHILDREN, 

WHO NOW REST FROM THEIR LABORS, 

THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY 

T. BROOM BELFIELD, 

JUNE 19, I906. 



Virginia. 



TO THE GLORY OF GOD, 

JN HONOR OF THE UNFALTERING HEROISM 

OF THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY 

AND THE BRAVE VIRGINIANS 

WHO SO FAITHFULLY STOOD BY HIM 

IN THIS VALLEY, 

AND IN SINCERE APPRECIATION OF 

THE DEVOTION OF THE 

CHURCHMEN OF THE 

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA 

TO THE MISSIONS OF THE CHURCH, 

AND ESPECIALLY IN GIVING THEMSELVES 

TO THIS GREAT CAUSE, 

THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY 

GEORGE CLIFFORD THOMAS, 

JUNE 19, 1907 



54 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



Maryland. 

TO THE GLORY OF ALMIGHTY GOD 
IN HONOUR OF THE BRAVE TROOPS OF 
MARYLAND 
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR 
COUNTRY, AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF 
ABRAHAM DAVID MITCHELL, 
OF MARYLAND, 
AND JANE THOMPSON EVANS, HIS WIFE, 
THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY THEIR SON, 
JAMES EVANS MITCHELL, 
I008 



Massachusetts. 



TO THE GLORY OF GOD, 

IN HONOR OF THEIR ANCESTORS 

AND IN LASTING MEMORY 

OF THE 

SOLDIERS OF MASSACHUSETTS 

ENCAMPED AT VALLEY FORGE DURING 

THE WINTER OF I J J J- 1 778, 

THIS BAY IS ERECTED BY THE 

MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY, 

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 

1009. 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 55 

Delaware. 



TO THE GLORY OF GOD 

AND 

IN HONOR OF THE MEN OF 

DELAWARE, 

WHO, 

BY PATIENT ENDURANCE. 

CHEERFUL SELF SACRIFICE 

AND FEARLESS DEVOTION 

TO DUTY IN CAMP 

AND BY BRAVERY ON 

THE FIELD OF BATTLE, 

HELPED WIN FOR US 

A COUNTRY 

AND FOR THEMSELVES 

A DEATHLESS FAME 

THIS BAY IS ERECTED 

FOR THE DELAWARE 

SOCIETY, SONS OF THE 

AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

BY GEORGE A. ELLIOTT 

PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY 

1912. 

New York. 

TO THE GLORY OF GOD 

AND IN MEMORY OF 

THOSE HEROIC MEN 

WHO HERE ENDURED 

GREAT HARDSHIPS 

IN THE WAR OF 

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 

THIS BAY 

IS ERECTED BY 

THE COLONIAL DAMES 

OF AMERICA 

1913 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 5/ 

Connecticut. 

TO THE GLORY OF GOD 

AXD IN MEMORY OF THE 

CONNECTICUT MEN 

IN THE 

CONTINENTAL ARMY 

AT 

VALLEY FORGE 

AND OF 

THOSE PATRIOTIC CITIZENS 

WHO MINISTERED TO THEIR 

NECESSITIES AND MITIGATED 

THEIR SUFFERING THIS BAY 

IS ERECTED 

BY 

THE PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES 

OF CONNECTICUT 

THE ORDER OF THE CINCINNATI 

THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION 

THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

. THE SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS 

THE ORDER OF FOUNDERS AND PATRIOTS OF AMERICA 

THE MILITARY ORDER OF FOREIGN WARS 



The Porch. The porch was built by All Saints' Sun- 
day School, Norristown, which pledged the first one hundred 
dollars toward the erection of the chapel. On the corbels at 
the entrance are carved the arms of the Diocese of Pennsyl- 
vania, on the right, and, on the left, those of the Washington 
Memorial Chapel. 

The Porch Gates. — The Porch is closed by iron gates 
given by Dr. Charles Custis Harrison and Mr. Alfred C. Harri- 
son in honor of their ancestors, Colonel Samuel Waples and 
Major Thomas Custis, of the Continental Army. The gates 
were wrought by Mr. Samuel Yellin, in the best spirit of the 
greatest iron workers. At the entrance the effort has been made 
to emphasize the religious character of Washington. The inscrip- 



s8 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

tion cut in the wall on the right is taken from the General 
Orders at Valley Forge, in which in arranging the hour of 
Divine Service for the army he said: 

"While we are zealously performing the Duties 
of good Citizens and Soldiers, we certainly ought 
not to be inattentive to the higher Duties of Re- 
ligion. To the distinguished Character of Patriot 
it should be our highest Glory to add the more 
distinguished Character of Christian." 

The inscription on the left is taken from the Farewell Ad- 
dress, and is as follows : 

"Of all the Dispositions and Habits which lead 
to political Prosperity, Religion and Morality are 
indispensable Supports. In vain would that Man 
claim the Tribute of Patriotism who should labor 
to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, 
these firmest props of the Duties of Men and 
Citizens." 

In the windows has been placed Washington's valedictory 
prayer for the people of the United States : 

"I commend the interests of our dearest country 
to the protection of Almighty God, and those who 
have the superintendence of them to His holy keep- 
ing." 

In each window there is an ecclesiastical seal, the four 
symbolizing the communion of the Anglican Church, of which 
Washington was a member and from which he received his re- 
ligious training. Following the order of the inscription they 
are : York and Canterbury, representing the Church of Eng- 
land; London, under whose bishop were the English communi- 
cants in the American Colonies, and the House of Bishops of 
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of Amer- 
ica, which, after the Revolution, succeeded to the property and 
rights of the English Church in this country. 




Interior of the Washington Memorial Chapel. 



60 GL T IDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

The carved oak ceiling bears the arms of Washington, 
from which it has been claimed that the American flag has 
been derived. The arms appear also in the seal of the Wash- 
ington Memorial Chapel, which is set in the marble floor. 

The Washington Memorial Door. — The porch door 
is the gift of Colonial Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution, 
and is one of the handsomest memorials at Valley Forge. On 
the top rail are seven shields with armorial bearings. In the 
center are the Washington arms, and to the right those of the 
United States, Virginia, and the insignia of the Daughters of 
the Revolution. To the left are those of the Protestant Epis- 
copal Church, the Diocese of Virginia, and the seal of the 
Washington Memorial Chapel. On the inner side are the arms 
of the Washingtons and the English families with which they 
intermarried. 

The door is the gift of Colonial Chapter, Daughters of the 
Revolution, and was dedicated May 13, 1910. It bears the fol- 
lowing inscription, carved in the upper stiles : 

TO THE GLORY OF GOD, OUR NATION'S HONOUR AND 

THE MEMORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, THIS DOOR IS 

GIVEN BY COLONIAL CHAPTER, PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY, 

DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

The Commander-in-Chief's Door. — The Door opening 
into the Cloister of the Colonies bears the arms of the thirteen 
original States and the insignia of the Colonial Dames. Cut in 
the oak is the following inscription : 

In Gratitude to God for His Guidance in the 
Election of George Washington, Commander-in- 
Chief of the Continental Forces, this Door is given 
bj* The Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II, 
Philadelphia. 

The Washington-Sullivan Font. — To the right of the 
doorway stands the beautiful Washington-Sullivan font, of In- 
diana limestone. On each face of the octagonal bowl are carved 
the Washington arms, and on the angles shields bearing the 




The Washington-Sullivan Font. 



62 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Crusader's cross, symbolizing the Christian's warfare against the 
world, the flesh and the devil. The font was the gift of Mr. 
and Mrs. William M. Sullivan, in memory of their son, Ralph, 
and in commemoration of Washington's baptism. The inscrip- 
tion of dedication is on the base: 

"To the Glory of God and in loving Memory 
of Ralph J. Sullivan, 1890-1903. The Gift of his 
Parents." 

The inscription on the wall back of the font is most inter- 
esting, as it includes the record of Washington's birth and bap- 
tism as recorded by him in his mother's Bible. His baptismal 
robe is preserved in the National Museum at Washington. The 
inscription : 

"George Washington was made a Member of 
Christ, the Child of God, and an Inheritor of the 
Kingdom of Heaven, in the Sacrament of Holy 
Baptism Ministered according to the Use of The 
Church of England, whereof this Font is a Memo- 
rial, and this the Record: George Washington, Son 
of Augustine & Mary, his Wife, was Born ye nth 
Day of February, 173^2 abDut 10 in the Morning & 
was Baptized on the 3th of April following, Mr. Bev- 
erly Whiting & Cap't Christopher Brooks God- 
fathers and Mrs. Mildred Gregory Godmother." 

The font was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Robert A. Gibson, 
Bishop of Virginia, June 19, 1907. 

Pews of the Patriots. — The pews are known as the 
"Pews of the Patriots," and are said to be unequaled in America. 
They were designed by Mr. Milton Bennett Medary, Jr., the 
architect of the chapel, who has designed all the furnishings, 
and great care has been exercised to make them worthy memo- 
rials. On the base of each pew are carved either the family 
arms, the insignia of a patriotic society or the Colonial seal 
or State arms. The inscriptions are well worth studying. 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 



63 



The Presidents' Pew bears the arms of the United States, 
the seal of the President and the Pearson arms. It is given 
in memory of Washington and Monroe, who were at Valley 
Forge and later became Presidents, and commemorates the ad- 
dress of President Roosevelt, the first President to visit this 
sacred ground. 

The seats in the chapel are all free, as it is a House of 
Prayer for all people. It is maintained by the voluntary con- 
tributions of the worshippers. 




The Major-Generals' Screen. 

The Pew Screens. — In front of the Pews of the Patri- 
ots are elaborately carved screens. That in front of the Presi- 



64 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



dents' Pew was given by Nancy Delia Benjamin Pearson in 
honor of Washington and his Major-Generals at Valley Forge, 
and in memory of her parents, Benaiah Benjamin and Eliza- 
beth Noyes. That in front of the Shippen Pew was given by 
Elizabeth Swift and Sarah Swift Zulich in honor of Washing- 




The Brigadier-Generals' Screen. 



ton and his Brigadier-Generals at Valley Forge, and in memory 
of their parents, Samuel Swift and Mary Ann Swift. As Wash- 
ington spoke so frequently of the Providence of God as direct- 
ing the destiny of the American patriots, this is symbolized by 
angels at prayer. These are carved in oak and kneel on the 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 



55 



buttresses. Below in the panels are thirteen flags of the Revo- 
lution, carved and colored. On the Major-Generals' screen, 
from left to right, they are: The flags of the 3d New York, 
1st Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Light Horse, Commander-in- 
Chiefs Life Guard, Commander-in-Chief's standard, the Grand 
Union, the National standard, an earlier form of the National 




The Presidents' Pew. 



standard, the Rattlesnake flag, flag of the Floating Batteries, 
the Eutaw standard, the Pulaski standard, and the flag of the 
Bedford Minute Men. On the base of the screens are thirteen 
shields, that in the middle inscribed with the name of Washing- 
ton, to the left the arms of the United States, and to the right 
the Washington arms. The names of the generals are in the 
following order: Lee, Sullivan, Greene, De Kalb, St. Clair, 
Lafayette, Steuben, Duportail, Sterling and Knox. 



66 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

General Charles Lee was a traitor when Washington wel- 
comed him to Valley Forge, so his name on the shield has been 
partly obliterated. 

The other screen bears the following flags : The flag ot 
the 2d Rhode Island Regiment, the Westmoreland County Bat- 
talion (Pa.), two flags of the 2d New Hampshire Regiments, 
2d Regiment Light Dragoons, the Rattlesnake flag of South 
Carolina, the Pine Tree flag of New England, the Fort Moul- 
trie flag, flag of the Bucks of America, Webb's Connecticut 
Regiment, Talmadge's Dragoons, 2d Regiment 2d Connecticut 
Battalion and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. 

The following Brigadier-Generals are commemorated: Mc- 
intosh, Maxwell, Poor, Glover, Patterson, Wayne, Varnum 
Woodford, Muhlenberg, Weedon, Scott, Learned and Hunting- 
ton. 

The following scheme shows the arrangement of the pews 
and screens and the patriots commemorated : 

Altar. 

A. The Major-Generals' Screen — Nancy Delia Benjamin 
Pearson. 

B. The Brigadier-Generals' Screen — Elizabeth Swift and 
Sarah Swift Zulich. 

1. The Presidents' Pew — William Henry Pearson. 

2. Joseph Shippen Pew — William H. Swift, Elizabeth Swift, 

Sarah Swift Zulich and Joseph Swift. 

3. Samuel Runk Pew — Emma Ten Broeck Runk, Louis Bar- 

croft Runk. 

4. Thomas Cummings Pew — Sarah Swift Zulich, Mary J. Rinek. 

Thomas Cummings Zulich, Thomas Cummings Zulich, Jr. 
S- Benjamin Franklin Pew — His descendants. 

6. Christopher and Christinia Pechin Pew — Lilla Sellers Pechin, 

Mary Pechin Bliss. 

7. Col. Patrick Anderson Pew — His descendants. 

8. Col. William Dewees Pew — W. Dewees Wood, Alan Wood, 

Jr., Howard Wood, Thomas Roberts, William M. Potts, 
Francis Potts. 

9. Jacob and John Kingsbur} r Pew — Frederick John Kingsbury. 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 67 

10. Continental Army Pew — Colorado Society, Daughters of the 

Revolution. 

11. Richard Currie Pew — His descendants. 

12. Gen. James Potter Pew — Alan D. Wilson. 

13. Col. Clement Biddle Pew — His great-grandchildren. 

14. The Hussey Pew — Edward Hussey Binns. 

15. Rev. Robert Blackwell Pew— Elise W. Balch. 

16. Rev. Stephen Bloomer Balch Pew — Elise W. Balch. 

17. Col. John Nixon Pew — Ellen Wain Harrison. 

18. Capt. Timothy Corey, Caleb Gardner and John Downing 

Pew — Lizzie G. Corey Gerry. 

19. Col. James Livingston Pew — Margaret Wilkeson Corson. 

20. John Morton Pew — Delaware County Chapter, Daughters 

of the American Revolution. 

21. Capt. John Douglas Pew — Ellen Douglas Carpenter Bennett. 

22. Betty Washington Pew — Fannie B. Lovell. 

23. Dr. James Hutchinson Pew — His descendants. 

24. Continental Navy Pew — Liberty Bell Chapter, Daughters of 

the Revolution. 

25. Capt. James Hunter Pew — Anna Wills Baugh. 

The Litany Desk. — At the head of the aisle is the Litany 
Desk, given in memory of the late Stephen Greene by his son 
Dr. William H. Greene. 

The Memorial Tablets. — The tablet on the left wall is 
of carved brass, and was given by Miss Rhoda Augusta Thomp- 
son, in memory of her father, who came to Valley Forge as a 
drummer boy when only sixteen. Inscription : 

"To the Glory of God and in Memory of Thad- 
deus Thompson, of Connecticut. Born March 5, 
1762; Died June 16, 1829. Who faithfully served his 
Country as Drummer-boy and Bombardier during 
the Revolution, enduring the hardships of Valley 
Forge, and being wounded at Yorktown. This Tab- 
let is erected by his Daughter, Rhoda Augusta 
Thompson, in grateful Remembrance of a loving 
Father, a loyal Patriot, and a devout Churchman." 



68 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



The tablet was dedicated on the 19th of December, 1906, 
the one hundred and twenty-ninth anniversary of his coming 
to Valley Forge with the American army. 

The tablet on the right is in memory of John Benjamin, 
bombardier, and was given by his great-granddaughter, Mrs. 
William Henry Pearson. Its dedication took place on June 19, 
1908. It bears the following inscription : 



m^ 



mmmmftfflmmms&m&Bmi^m 



leEiTnmiTgnFiiiirriTgrjffiCETmm^^ 




--V^- _- 



The Thaddeus Thompson Tablet. 

"With Thanksgiving unto Almighty God and in 
loving Memory of John Benjamin, of Massachusetts, 
February 5, 1758; died December 2, 1814. Artillerist 
in the Continental Army, giving to his beloved 
Country a Service of Seven Years and sharing the 
Privations of Valley Forge, this Tablet in tribute 
of his Honor, his Valor and his faithful Life, is 
erected by his Granddaughter, Nancy Delia Benjamin 
Pearson." 

The plaster casts were made by Miss Martha M. Hovenden, 
the talented daughter of the famous American artist, Thomas 
Hovenden. The tablet near the font commemorates the Signers 
of the Declaration of Independence. The Spirit of Liberty holds 
the scroll on which is inscribed the message of the Liberty Bell : 



"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto 
all the inhabitants thereof." 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 69 

In the upper corners there are medallion portraits of George 
Mason, the author of the Bill of Rights, and Thomas Jefferson, 
the author of the Declaration of Independence. Below these are 
the names of the Signers. 

The second tablet bears the figure of the Spirit of Unity, 
holding the great seal of the United States encircled with an 
olive wreath. The medallions contain the portraits of James 
Madison, "the Father of the Constitution," and Alexander Hamil- 
ton, its exponent. The names of the Framers are arranged by 
States, each marked with the State arms. 




The John Benjamin Tablet. 

It is hoped that the money required to cast these tablets in 
bronze may be secured in the near future, that they may be 
given enduring form. 



The Door of the Allies. — On the right, opening into the 
Porch of the Allies is the Door of the Allies, given by the 
Pennsylvania Chapter of the Daughters of Founders and 
Patriots, in honor of the foreign soldiers who aided the Amer- 
ican patriots in their struggle for Independence. It was dedi- 
cated October 20, 1914, by the Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Garland, D.D. 
Mrs. Sarah P. Snowden Mitchell, President of the Chapter, 
made the presentation, and addresses were made by Bishop 
Garland and the Rev. Andrew Fleming West, D.D., Dean of the 
Graduate School, Princeton. On the inner side of the door are 
the arms of Rochambeau, DeGouvion, Duportail, D'Estaing, 
Lauzum and Pulaski, with the arms of the Society in the center. 



JO GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

On the outer side are the arms of the following: DeGrasse, 
Lafayette, French Monarchy, Washington, United States, 
Steuben and De Kalb. The inscription reads: 

"In Gratitude to God for all Allies who gave Help 
and Hope to Washington and His Soldiers, this 
Door is Presented by the Pennsylvania Chapter of 
the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, 
A. D. 1914." 

The Inauguration Door. — The door on the left, opening 
into the Cloister of the Colonies, was given by the Society of 
New York State Women in memory of Washington's Inaugura- 
tion as first President of the United States. It bears the arms 
of the thirteen States, and the insignia of the Society. The 
inscription cut in the oak is : 

"In Gratitude to Almighty God for those Provi- 
dential Aids by which Our Government was Insti- 
tuted and George Washington Inaugurated the First 
President of the United States, this Door is given 
by the Society of Xew York State Women." 

The Washington-Wood Pulpit, Lectern and Per- 
close. — At the entrance to the choir is the Washington- Wood 
memorial, consisting of the pulpit, lectern and perclose, all of 
Indiana limestone, the gift of Mrs. Alan Wood, Jr. The in- 
scription of dedication is carved on the steps as follows : 
"To the Glory of God and in Memory of Alan 
Wood, Jr. July 6, 1834; October 31, 1902. And in 
Commemoration of George Washington, Warden of 
Truro Parish, Virginia, and Lay Reader in the 
French and Indian War." 

The pulpit follows the lines of the Washington-Sullivan 
font, and is remarkable for its grace and dignity. It bears the 
arms of Washington and the Crusaders' cross, both of which 
are used most effectively in the decoration of the sermon desk of 
cast bronze. The buttresses, and the deep-cut canopies, with 
their groined arches and carved corbels, are used with excellent 
effect. The inscription on the base is : 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. JI 

"George Washington was first appointed Church 
Warden in Truro Parish, October 3, 1763." 

The lectern is the only monument at Valley Forge to a 
British soldier. It commemorates Washington's service as Gen- 
eral Braddock's aide-de-camp in his ill-fated expedition against 
the French, and especially his last tribute to his dead chief, as 
recorded in the following words : 

"George Washington read the Prayer Book Office 
for the Burial of the Dead at the Interment of 
Major-General Edward Braddock, July 14, 1755." 



1 

■ 1 




m 1 



The Pulpit and Lectern. 

The Washington arms are carved on the center of the 
desk. On the left is an eagle holding the Bible, symbolic 
of the Church, while on the right is another holding a shield 
bearing the arms of the United States, symbolic of the State. 



>J2 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

This handsome memorial was dedicated on Washington's 
Birthday, 1909, when for the first time in history a representative 
of the King of England made an address at Valley Forge. His 
Britannic Majesty's Consul, the Hon. Wilfred Powell, grace- 
fully acknowledged the honor paid to the English nation in 
the memorial of Washington, the British soldier, and spoke 
of the Washington Memorial Chapel as the American West- 
minster. 

The Rt. Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, D. D., Bishop of Pitts- 
burgh, in whose diocese Washington acted as an English chaplain, 
delivered an able address on "General Washington as a Church- 
man." 

The Washington-Burk Memorial. — On Easter Day, 
1912. was dedicated the Washington-Burk Memorial, given in 
memory of the late Abbie J. Reeves Burk, wife of the Rev. 
W. Herbert Burk. The memorial is the bronze statuette "Val- 
ley Forge," the work of the famous American sculptor, Frank- 
lin Simmons, and was cast by G. Nisini, in Rome. It is 
pronounced the finest statue of Washington since Houdon's 
wonderful work preserved in the capitol at Richmond. The 
statuette sets in a richly carved canopied niche by the lectern. 

Engraved on the statuette is the following inscription: 

in thankful remembrance of 

god's gracious support 

of his servant 

george washington 

in his days of trial at 

valley forge 

and in loving memory of 

abbie j. reeves burk 

whose patriotism and devotion 

are embodied in this chapel 

this statuette is given by her friends 

EASTER, 1912 

As this chapel was inspired by Washington's Prayer at 
Valley Forge it will be an appropriate place in which to read 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 73 

the story as it has been preserved in the traditions of the de- 
scendants from Isaac Potts, who first told it. This account is 
taken from a paper in the handwriting of Ruth Anna, his 
daughter. 

The incident evidently occurred before Washington made 
the Potts home his headquarters, so the place of prayer was 
probably somewhere on the slopes of Mount Joy. 

"In 1777, while the American army lay at Valley Forge, a 
good old Quaker by the name of Potts had occasion to pass 




Washington at Prayer at Valley Forge. 

through a thick wood near headquarters. As he traversed the 
dark brown forest, he heard, at a distance before him, a voice 
which as he advanced became more fervid and interested. Ap- 
proaching with slowness and circumspection, whom should he 
behold in a dark bower, apparently formed for the purpose, but 
the Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United Colonies 
on his knees in the act of devotion to the Ruler of the uni- 
verse ! At the moment when Friend Potts, concealed by the 



74 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

trees, came up, Washington was interceding for his beloved 
country. With tones of gratitude that labored for adequate 
expression, he adored that exuberant goodness which, from 
the depth of obscurity, had exalted him to the head of a 
great nation, and that nation fighting at fearful odds for all 
the world holds dear. 

"He utterly disclaimed all ability of his own for this arduous 
conflict ; he wept at the thought of that irretrievable ruin 
which his mistakes might bring on his country, and with 
the patriot's pathos spreading the interests of unborn millions 
before the eye of Eternal Mercy, he implored the aid of that 
arm which guides the starry host. Soon as the General had 
finished his devotions and had retired, Friend Potts returned 
to his house, and threw himself into a chair by the side of his 
wife. 

" 'Hegh ! Isaac !' said she with tenderness, 'thee seems agi- 
tated; what's the matter?' 'Indeed, my dear,' quoth he, 'if I 
appear agitated 'tis no more than what I am. I have seen this 
day what I shall never forget. Till now I have thought that a 
Christian and a soldier were characters incompatible ; but if 
George Washington be not a man of God, I am mistaken, and 
still more shall I be disappointed if God do not through him 
perform some great thing for this country.' " 

(Isaac Potts was then 27, having been married at the age 
of 20, at Plymouth Meeting, 6th December, 1770, to Martha, 
daughter of Samuel and Mary (Livezy) Bolton, born May 28, 
1750.) 

The Choir. — Beyond the Washington-Wood Memorial 
Pulpit, Perclose and Lectern is the Choir of the Chapel. This 
will be furnished with richly carved choir stalls. The canopied 
stalls are intended to represent the military organizations which 
date from the War of the Revolution. 

The Prayer Desk. — The Prayer Desk is the gift of the 
Valley Forge Chapter, D. A. R., in memory of Mrs. Anna Morris 
Holstein, its first Regent and Founder, to whom the Nation so 
largely owes the preservation of Washington's Headquarters. 
It was dedicated June 19, 1916. At its dedication addresses werr 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 75 

made by Mrs. William Cumming Story, President-General of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Rev. W. Herbert 
Burk. The presentation was made by Mrs. Irwin Fisher. 

The inscription is cut in brass and inlaid with pewter, and 
bears the arms of Washington, the Washington Memorial 
Chapel, the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and the insignia of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution : 

''To the Glory of God and in Memory of Anna 
Morris Holstein, who in War served the Nation as 
Nurse and in Peace Preserved the Washington 
Headquarters, this Desk is given by the Valley 
Forge Chapter, D. A. R., of which She was the 
Founder and First Regent, 1916." 

The Memorial Organ. — The Memorial Organ is the gift 
of Mr. William L. Austin, of Philadelphia, in memory of his 
ancestor, Lieutenant David Snyder, of the Light Dragoons. 
The Organ was built by the Haskell Organ Company, of Phila- 
delphia. It is a three manual pipe organ, electro-pneumatic 
action, and has twenty stops. 

The General Huntington Door. — -The door on the 
right, leading into the clergy vestry is a memorial of General 
Jedediah Huntington and was given by his descendants. General 
Huntington commanded a brigade of Connecticut troops, which 
was encamped near Fort Huntington. The hardware on this 
door is notable both for design and workmanship, and won a 
prize at the Americanization Exhibition. 

The Sanctuary. — At the entrance to the Sanctuary is the 
beautiful Sanctuan* Arch. Carved in its deeply cut moulding 
are forty -four shields bearing the arms of those States which 
were in the Union when the corner-stone of the Chapel was 
laid. 

The Altar and the Reredos.— The Altar and Reredos 
are the gift of Mr. Rodman Wanamaker in memory of George 
Washington. The Altar is one block of Indiana limestone weigh- 
ing ten tons. In the face is set the plate from Washington's 



7 6 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



overbox. This fell on the floor of the vault and was overlooked 
when the sarcophagus was sealed. It bears the following 
inscription : 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 
BORN FEBRUARY 22, 1 732 
DIED DECEMBER II, 1 799 




Name-Plate from the Outer Case of Washington's Coffin. 
The inscription on the Altar is : 

TO THE GLORY OF GOD 

AND 

IN MEMORY OF 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

AND 

HIS FELLOW PATRIOTS 

WHO ACHIEVED OUR INDEPENDENCE 

AND 

GAVE LIBERTY TO OUR COUNTRY 

RODMAN WANA MAKER 

A. D. I916 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. J J 

Cut in the steps leading to the Altar is the following tribute 
paid by Alfred Tennyson to Washington: 

"his work is done; 
but while the race of mankind endure, 
let his great example stand 
colossal seen of every land, 
and keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure, 
till in all lands, and thro' all human story, 
the path of duty be the way of glory." 

Above the Altar is the following prayer of Washington for 
the American Nation : "I now make it my earnest prayer, that 
God would have the United States in His holy protection; that 
He would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit 
of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a 
brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow 
citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their 
brethren who have served in the field; and finally, that He 
would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, 
to love mere}-, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humil- 
ity and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of 
the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an 
humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never 
hope to be a happy nation." 

The Altar Cross. — The Altar Cross is a memorial of 
Abraham Lincoln and is the gift of "A Descendant of a Penn- 
sylvania Ancestor of President Lincoln." 

The Credence. — The Credence on the right bears the 
insignia of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the 
following inscription : 

Dedicated to the Glory of God 

and in Memory of its First Regent, 

Minnie Murdoch Kendrick, 

this Credence is Erected 

BY THE 

Quaker City Chapter 

Daughters of the American Revolution 

September 5, 1916. 



JQ GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

It was dedicated September 5, 1916, when Murdoch Ken- 
drick, Esq., made the presentation on behalf of the Chapter, and 
addresses were made by the Hon. Morris S. Barratt, Judge of 
the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia, and T. Lane Bean, 
Esq., of Xorristown. 




Seal of the Washington Memorial Chapel. 

The Sedilia. — The stone sedilia, or clergy seats, with their 
richly carved canopies, commemorate Washington's Rectors and 
thus tell of his religious life. The first on the right, next to 
the Credence, is the gift of Philadelphia Chapter and bears the 
insignia of the Society and the following inscription: 

to the glory of god 

and in memory of the 

reverend thomas davis 

soldier in the continental army 

I/75-I778 
UNDER GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 79 

RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH, ALEXANDRIA, VA. 

1792- 1806 

OFFICIATED AT THE FUNERAL OF 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

PLACED BY THE 

PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER 

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

I9l6 

The central sedile on the right is the gift of Mrs. John 
Harrison in memory of an ancestor who served in the War of 
the Revolution. 

The first sedile on the left commemorates the faithful serv- 
ices of the Reverend Francis Thompson Howell Finn, the first 
Assistant Minister of the Washington Memorial Chapel. 

Next to the bishop's sedile is that given by the Pennsylvania 
Society of New England Women. Below the insignia of the 
Society is the following inscription : 

TO THE GLORY OF 

GOD 

AND IN MEMORY OF 

REV. DAVID GRIFFITH 

RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH 

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, 1 779- 1 789 

AND OF 

REV. WILLIAM MONTAGUE 

RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH 

BOSTON, MASS., I786-I792 

WHO IN HIS YOUTH FOR HIS COUNTRY 

AND IN OLD AGE FOR HIS CHURCH 

VALIANTLY FOUGHT 

PRESENTED BY 

THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF 

NEW ENGLAND WOMEN 

I9l6 

The Bishop White Sedile.— The Bishop's Sedile was 
given by Mrs. Charles Custis Harrison in memory of the Rt. 
Rev. William White, D.D., a Rector of Christ Church, Phila- 



80 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

delphia, Chaplain of the Continental Congress, Chaplain of 
Congress, and first Bishop of Pennsylvania. During Washing- 
ton's residence in Philadelphia he made Christ Church his 
church home, and Bishop White his friend, pastor and almoner. 

The Martha Washington Window. — The United 
States has long neglected to pay the honor due to Martha 
Washington for her part in the Nation's struggle for inde- 
pendence. She shared with her husband the trials of faith and 
courage and in many a dark hour cheered him by her presence 
and ministry. At Valley Forge she shared his privations and 
strove to lighten his burdens. In appreciation of this the Colonial 
Dames of Pennsylvania will give the window over the altar as 
a tribute to Martha Washington. 

As St. Mark's, Venice, is the Bible in Stone, so the Wash- 
ington Memorial Chapel is the Republic's History. With a 
thoroughness never before attempted the story of the rise and 
progress of the American people has been told in this beautiful 
fane, whose fabric and furnishings are works of art, and records 
of heroic self-sacrifice. From the porch to the altar is written 
in font, and lectern, pulpit and sedilia, the religious life of the 
Commander-in-Chief which consecrated these hills with prayer, 
and exalted the ideal of patriotism. The Pews of the Patriots 
are memorials of men and women through whose efforts our 
independence was won. The windows will tell in a wondrous 
way the westward wandering of the peoples, and the building of 
the Nation. Above all rises the Roof of the Republic. 

The Roof of the Republic. — The crowning glory of the 
Chapel is the Roof of the Republic. The trusses of the Roof 
are supported by carved oak angels with outstretched wings to 
s} T mbolize the Providence of God and pelicans to symbolize self- 
sacrifice. Every State of the Union is represented by a State 
Panel in which the arms are carved and colored. The Panels 
follow the order in which the States entered the Union, begin- 
ning with Delaware and ending with Arizona. In the floor 
under each bay of the Roof will be a bronze tablet with the 
arms of the States represented above, the names of the States, 
and the names of the donors. 



WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 8l 

The State Panels. — The following State Panels in the 
Roof of the Republic have been given: 

Delaware — Mrs. T. P. Chandler, Jr. 

Pennsylvania — Mr. Richard L. Cadwalader. 

New Jersey — Mrs. Erastus Gaylord Putnam, in memory of 
Ellen Mecum, State Regent and Vice-President General, D. A. R. 

Connecticut — Miss Edith Kingsbury, in memory of Frederick 
John Kingsbury, 1823-1910. 

Massachusetts — Mr. S. W. Colton, Jr. 

South Carolina — Mrs. Francis G. du Pont. 

Virginia — A Great-Granddaughter of Edward Randolph. 

New York — Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. 

Rhode Island — The Patriotic Societies of Rhode Island. 

Ohio — The Ohio State Society, Daughters of the American 
Revolution. 

Louisiana — Mrs. Charlotte H. C. Houston. 

Maine — Mr. Henry D. Moore. 

Missouri — Missouri Society of the Sons of the Revolution. 

Texas — Mrs. Thomas S. Maxey. 

Oregon — Miss Failing. 

The Porch of the Allies. — Along the front of the 
Patriots' Hall will be the Porch of the Allies, a noble memorial 
of those soldiers of the old world who strove to win the freedom 
of the new. Two of the bays, those in memory of De Kalb and 
Steuben, have been promised by the National German-American 
Alliance. The central bay will form the entrance to the Patriots' 
Hall and will be in memory of Lafayette. The others have not 
been named. 

Architecturally the Porch of the Allies will correspond with 
the Cloister of the Colonies. It will terminate in the Thanks- 
giving Tower. 

The Thanksgiving Tower. — The Thanksgiving Tower 
will be the most prominent feature of the Valley Forge memo- 
rial, and will be seen from all parts of the encampmentt. It 
will be 24 feet square and 100 feet high. Its entrance will be 
at the end of the "Porch of the Allies" farthest from the 



82 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

chapel, and will form the approach to the large assembly hall 
and museum in the second floor of the Patriots' Hall. The tower 
will be built of Holmesburg granite to correspond with the other 
buildings, and the cut stone will be Indiana limestone. It will 
be lined with the latter material, and will contain memorial 
tablets. 

The stairway to the second floor and to the bell floor will be 
of granite with a railing of bronze. Each step will be a memo- 
rial of an American patriot. The memorial tablets will be set on 
the risers, and these "Steps of Fame" will be of the deepest 
historic interest. 

There will be thirteen bells in the chime, each representing 
one of the original colonies, and bearing an inscription of dedi- 
cation cast in the bell. It is probable that all these bells will 
be memorials. 

The roof of the tower will be used as an observatory, and 
will be surrounded by a turreted wall. Surmounting the whole 
structure will be the staff for the flag, and the tower and flag 
will form one of the landmarks at Valley Forge. 

The Patriots' Hall. — A very important part of the group 
of buildings which has been planned in connection with the Wash- 
ington Memorial Chapel is the Patriots' Hall. The ever-growing 
interest in Valley Forge, and the enlargement and improvement 
of the Park, annually increase the number of patriotic pilgrims 
who find inspiration in the hills and valleys consecrated by the 
struggle of Washington and his starving troops. Patriotic and 
historical societies desire to hold their meetings on this sacred 
soil. To make this possible, and at the same time to provide for 
the comfort and convenience of large gatherings, was designed 
the Patriots' Hall, memorial to the patriots of the past, the 
common meeting-place of the patriots of the present. 

This will be connected with the Washington Memorial 
Chapel, and will contain on the first floor the vestry and choir 
rooms, etc., for the use of the clergy and choirs of the Chapel. 
The public rooms will be a banquet hall and museums. The 
former will be connected with ample kitchens on the floor below, 
and will be at the service of such societies as choose to spend 
a day at Valley Forge. 




Thanksgiving Tower, Patriots' Hall, Porch of the Allies 
and Washington Memorial Library. 



84 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

On the second floor there will be a hall arranged to accom- 
modate several hundred people. Its windows will be memorials 
of those whose patriotism was worthy of emulation. Around 
its walls will be the cases for a collection of objects illustrative 
of American history. 

The Porch of the Allies and the Thanksgiving Tower will 
form the entrances to the Patriots' Hall. 

During the summer of 1908 the first room of the Patriots' 
Hall was built, with a kitchen and dining-room in the basement 
below it. It is fireproof, and for the present is used for the 
Museum and Library. 

The great need to-day is the money with which to complete 
this building which is so essential to the educational and 
patriotic work for which it is planned. 

The Valley Forge Museum of American History. — 

The Valley Forge Museum of American History was formally 
opened to the public on Washington's Birthday, 1909, and has 
steadily grown in value and historic importance. The collec- 
tions are divided into the following groups : 

The Aboriginal Period — 

The Rev. Jesse Y. Burk Collection of Indian Relics. 
The William S. Green and William L. Fox Collection of 
Indian Relics. 

The Colonial Period. 

Collection of Pennsylvania German Stove Plates. 
The War of the Revolution — 

Washington's Marquee. 

Washingtoniana. 

Valley Forge Collection. 

The Mary Regina Brice Collection of Documents. 
The Period of Construction. 
The Civil War. 

The Dr. Louis W. Read Collection. 
The S panish- American War. 

The Spear Collection. 

The Marie E. Moore Collection. 



THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 



85 



General. 

The Lilla S. Pechin American Stamp Collection. 

The Mary Elizabeth Schofield Collection. 

The Reginald L. Hart Collection of Military Buttons. 

"The Lilla S. Pechin Stamp Collection" is one of the most 
complete collections of the stamps of the United States in the 
country. 




The Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the 

United States. Original in the Valley Forge Museum 

of American History. 



"The Valley Forge Collection" is not large, but additions 
are frequently made to it. 

"The Washingtoniana" is admirably representative. There 
are several letters of Washington; a lock of his hair pre- 
sented to Alexander Hamilton; a button presented to James 



86 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Wilson Peale, who painted his portrait at Valley Forge; frag- 
ments of his first tomb and coffin ; piece of molding from 
Pohick Church, which he built, etc. ; his medicine chest, and 
rifle; a tumbler given him by Lafayette; and other relics. The 
needle book which Martha Washington made of pieces of her 
wedding dress, her husband's waistcoat and the damask curtain 
of the room in which he died is a remarkable memorial of her 
devotion and patriotism. 

The greatest relics of Washington are his marquee and 
headquarters' flag. 

Among the treasures of the museum are the original cheque 
for $120,000, paid to General Lafayette for his services during 
the Revolution, a fragment of the Liberty Bell, Patrick Henry's 
silver hot-plate holder, a Continental uniform, a Valley Forge 
musket, Andrew Jackson's leather stock, relics of the "Maine," 
etc. 

The donor of the Mary Elizabeth Schofield Collection is 
constantly adding articles of historic value. The most recent 
acquisitions are from the Howard Pyle collection — original uni- 
forms and costumes used by the artist in his studies of Colonial 
life. 

The museum is intended to illustrate the development of the 
American nation, and every effort is being made to increase its 
educational value. It is used by teachers to illustrate and im- 
press the lessons in American history. 

The museum is supported by contributions from three classes 
of contributors : Perpetual patrons, who give $200 or more ; life 
patrons, who give $50, and benefactors, who give $1 or more 
annually. 

Perpetual Patrons. 

Miss Sarah R. Chew. 

Mrs. Ann Hunter Wood (Mrs. Alan wood). In memoriam. 

Life Patrons. 

Mrs. Erastus Gaylord Putnam, New Jersey. 
Mr. William Henry Pearson, Massachusetts. 
Mrs. Hervey C. Gresh, Pennsylvania. 
Mrs. Alan Wood, Jr., Pennsylvania. 



THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 8? 

Washington's Marquee — The First Valley Forge 
Headquarters. — By far the greatest relic of Washington at 
Valley Forge is his marquee, or office and sleeping tent, in 
which he spent his first week upon these hills. 

George Washington Parke Custis, Washington's adopted 
son, counted Washington's tent the greatest treasure of Arling- 
ton House and the most precious heirloom of the Father of 
his Country. This "Pretorium of Valor," as it has been called, 
has had a remarkable history, which may be briefly summarized 
as follows : 

The sleeping tent and larger dining-tent were made in 
Philadelphia, 1775, and first set up on Dorchester Heights. 




Copyright by Harper & Brother. 

Washington's War Tents, 1852. 

Throughout the War of the Revolution these tents were 
used in the campaigns, and even when Washington occupied a 
house as his headquarters the sleeping-tent was set up for his 
private use. Within it he planned his campaigns, consulted with 
his officers, wrote letters and drafted despatches, slept and 
prayed. 

After the war the tent was first stored in the garret at 
Mount Vernon. Later, when Mr. Custis built Arlington House, 
the tents were carried there and stored. Before his death Mr. 
Custis presented the dining-tent to the Government. 



SQ GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

At the death of Mr. Custis the sleeping-tent with the other 
relics of Washington and the Arlington estate were inherited 
by his daughter, Mrs. Robert E. Lee. 

Upon the breaking out of the Civil War Lee resigned his 
commission in the United States army, and became commander- 
in-chief of the Confederate army. Mrs. Lee left Arlington 
House, and later the estate was seized by the Union army. The 
tent and other relics of Washington were removed to Wash- 
ington, and by order of Secretary Stanton were transferred to 
the Interior Department and placed on exhibition in the Patent 
Office. 

Mrs. Lee appealed to President Johnson in 1869 for the 
restoration of these personal relics of Washington, and the 
order for their transfer was given, but the House of Repre- 
sentatives interfered. 

The tent and other relics were removed to the National 
Museum in 1883. 

Under the administration of President McKinley, the relics 
were restored to the family. 

On May 27, 1907, the Rev. W. Herbert Burk, Minister in 
Charge of the Washington Memorial Chapel, secured from Miss 
Mary Custis Lee, the daughter of Mrs. Robert E. Lee, and the 
owner of the tent, an option for its purchase at $5000, and on 
August 19, 1909, made the first payment of $500, contributed by 
friends of the chapel, and received the tent, minus one-half of 
the side wall, from Miss Lee's representative and the curators 
of the National Museum. The following day, one hundred and 
thirty-one years after it was carried from Valley Forge, it was 
set up in the Valley Forge Museum of American History. 

By the terms of the contract the balance of $4500 is to be 
paid within five years, the tent to be exhibited for the purpose 
of raising that amount. Miss Lee will devote the proceeds to 
the support of the "Old Confederate Woman's Home," in Rich- 
mond, of which she is the president. 

Washington's Headquarters' Flag. — Miss Fannie B. 
Lovell has loaned the flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the 
American Army, — the flag that went with the marquee through 
the conflicts of the Revolution. It is of faded blue silk, with 



THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 89 

thirteen white stars, six-pointed, instead of five, and has the 
original homespun linen heading. The stars follow the lines 
of the crosses of the King's colors, the flag carried by every 
British regiment. 

The Maine Marker. — At the request of General S. K. 

Zook, Post No. 11, G. A. R., the Government gave the Valley 

Forge Museum a memorial tablet in memory of the "Maine." 

It represents America mourning the loss of her heroes on the 

"Maine." She bears a circular shield on which are the national 

arms surrounded by a circle in which are the words Patriotism 

and Devotion. She holds the palm branch symbolizing the 

Christian belief in the eternal victory. Below her arm are the 

wreck of the Maine and the following inscription: 

u. s. S. MAINE 

DESTROYED IN HAVANA HARBOR 

FEBRUARY I5TH, 1898 

Along the base of the tablet is this legend: 

THIS TABLET IS CAST FROM THE METAL RECOVERED FROM THE 
U. S. S. MAINE 

The tablet was designed by O. C. Hecks. When the 
Patriots' Hall is completed this tablet will have an honored 
position. 

The Washington Memorial Library. — In connection 
with the Washington Memorial Chapel and the Valley Forge 
Museum of American History a great library has been planned 
as a memorial of Washington the Booklover. As its volumes 
will represent the nation's development, and will contain the 
record of its progress, it will be a fitting memorial of the 
Father of his Country. Each State is to be represented by books 
of history and biography. It will be a library of reference for 
historical research. 

Three of its features are worthy of notice. The first is its 
Collection of Association Books. These include volumes owned 
by the Washingtons, George Mason, author of the "Bill of 
Rights"; James Wilson, Signer of the Declaration of Independ- 
ence; Gen. Philip Schuyler, Peter S. Du Ponceau, Francis As- 
bury, James Madison and others. 



9 o 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 






In this collection is the library of the Rev. Andrew Hunter, 
who preached the sermon when the French Alliance was cele- 
brated at Valley Forge. 

The second feature is the 
Collection of Authors' Presenta- 
tion Copies, presented to the 
library in honor of Washington, 
and forming the American Au- 
thors' Memorial of Washington. 
This collection includes gifts from 
such well-known authors as Presi- 
dent Wilson, Admiral Dewey, 
Captain Mahan, Lyman Abbott, 
Cyrus Townsend Brady, Andrew 
Carnegie, Samuel Clemmens, Mar- 
garet Deland, Horace Howard 
Furness, Albert Bushnell Hart, 
Hamilton W. Mabie, Edwin Mark- 
ham, Kate Douglas Wiggin Riggs, 
James Whitcomb Riley, Clinton 
Scollard, Henry Van Dyke, and 
many other notable writers. To 
dedicate the product of heart and 
brain to the memory of the 
Father of His Country, has 
become already a privilege and an 
honor, and this collection with 
its individual expressions of the 
author's personal appreciation of 
Washington, will become one of 
the most notable and valuable The Washington Memorial 
collections of books in the world. Library Book-Plate. 

The third distinctive feature will be the State Alcoves. 
These will be distinctly marked with the names and arms of 
every State in the Union. Here in locked cases will be kept 
the State and county histories, biographies of the leading citizens, 
and such books as are most frequently consulted by students 
of history. These Alcoves may be endowed as memorials and 




THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 



91 



the Endowment Fund thus formed will be used for the purchase 
of books relating to the State, and the balance each year will 
be added to the maintenance fund. 

The Washington Memorial Library was begun a few years 
ago by the Rev. W. Herbert Burk with a few volumes. To-day 
more than thirteen thousand volumes await a proper home. 

The Endowment Fund for the support of the library now 
amounts to nearly one thousand dollars, this whole amount 
having been secured by George Barrie & Sons through the 
sale of the Washington Memorial Edition of "The History of 
North America." 




The First Chapel. 



The First Chapel. — The little frame chapel has become 
famous as the place in which President Roosevelt made a notable 
speech on the one hundred and twenty-sixth anniversary of the 



92 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

evacuation. This was the only time that a President of the 
United States visited Valley Forge. 

The President spoke on the lessons of Gettysburg and 
Valley Forge, and in the course of his address said : 

"It is a good thing that these great historic landmarks of 
our country, Gettysburg and Valley Forge, should be pre- 
served ; that one should commemorate a single tremendous ef- 
fort, and the other what we need, on the whole, much more — 
much more commonly — and which is a more difficult thing — 
constant effort. Only men with a touch of the heroic could 
have lasted out that three days' wrestle at Gettysburg; only 
men fitted to rank with the great men of all times could have 
beaten back the mighty onslaught of that gallant and wonderful 
army of Northern Virginia, whose final, supreme effort failed 
at the stone wall, on Cemetery Hill, on that July day, now 
forty-one years ago. 

"But, after all, hard as it is to rise to the supreme height of 
self-sacrifice at a time of crisis that is brief; hard as it is to 
make the single, great effort, it is harder yet to rise to the 
level of a crisis when it takes the form of a need of constant, 
patient, steady work, month after month, year after year; 
when, too, it does not end after a struggle in a glorious day 
of victory; when, too, triumph is wrested bitterly away at the 
end. 

"Here at Valley Forge, Washington and his Continentals 
warred, not against foreign soldiery, but against themselves ; 
against all the appeals of our nature that are most difficult to 
resist; against discouragement, discontent, the mean envies 
and jealousies and heartburnings sure to arise at any time in 
large bodies of men, but especially when defeat and disaster 
have come to them; when the soldiers who carried our national 
flag had suffered from cold, from privation, from hardship, 
knowing that their foes were well housed, that things went 
easier with the others than they did with them; and they con- 
quered because they had in them the spirit that made them 
steadfast, not only on an occasional great day, but day after 
day, in a life of endeavor to do their duty well." 

The other speakers on this occasion, one of the most 
memorable in the history of Valley Forge, were the Rt. Rev. 



THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 93 

Leighton Coleman, Bishop of Delaware; the Hon. Wayne Mac- 
Veagh, and the Hon. Irving P. Wanger. 

On September 10, 1905, the little chapel was again honored 
when Vice-President Fairbanks made an eloquent address on the 
"Value of Prayer," instancing the prayers of Washington, Lin- 
coln and McKinley. The last noted speaker heard here was 
the Rt. Rev. James Heartt VanBuren, D. D., Missionary Bishop 
of Porto Rico, who spoke of Valley Forge as "the Holy of 
Holies of the American people." 

The chapel was first used for service on September 27, 
1903, when the sermon was preached by the Rev. Herbert J. 
Cook, Dean of the Convocation of Norristown. Since February 
22, 1906, the building has been used by the Sunday School. 

The Grounds. — The "Betsy Ross" flag is one of the most 
popular memorials at Valley Forge, and was first raised on the 
morning of June 19, 1903. On the staff has been placed the 
following inscription : 

THIS 

FLAG AND STAFF 

ARE A MEMORIAL OF 

BETSY ROSS 

A MEMBER OF 

CHRIST CHURCH 

PHILADELPHIA 

WHO MADE THE FIRST FLAG 

OF OUR NATION 

PRESENTED BY 

ALL SAINTS' SUNDAY SCHOOL 

NORRISTOWN, PA. 

From the happy suggestion made by the late Mrs. Abbie J. 
Reeves Burk, wife of the founder, came the practice of flying 
the flag at the times of service. At first this was the only 
form of announcing the services, and even after the bell was 
given by St. Andrew's Sunday School, Philadelphia, the practice 
was continued. 

The cannon at the entrance to the grounds have seen 
service. The larger ones are King George pieces, bearing the 
broad arrow and the rust-covered monogram. 



94 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

An attractive picnic ground will be found back of the Chapel, 
and is free to the public. Beyond the grove is a campground, 
free to camping parties who secure a permit from the Rector 
of the Chapel. 

The Cannon Park. — Along the driveway is the Cannon 
Park. Here has been placed one of the most interesting collec- 
tions of antique cannon in this country, including several guns 
used in the War of the Revolution, and loaned by the Estate 
of Stephen Girard to add to the educational value of the exhibit. 

The Martha Washington Log Cabin. — The Martha 
Washington Log Cabin is one of the most attractive buildings 
at Valley Forge. It was built by the Guild of the Washington 
Memorial Chapel in 1916. Col. H. C. Trexler, of Allentown, 
generously gave the cement required in its construction. The 
cabin is used for the Sunday school and other parish work, in 
which the kitchen often plays an important part. The large 
stone fireplace is the gift of a friend of the parish, and is a 
memorial of John and Mary L. Schofield. 

The Valley Forge. — A small smithy has been built for 
the exhibition of an old wooden portable forge known to have 
been used on the Stewart farm above Valley Forge over eighty 
years ago. It is the gift of Mr. Samuel T. Reeves. The old 
sled was used on the Stephens farm during the encampment 
and was given by Mr. Frank Quigg. The other antique articles 
help to give an idea of an old time farm smithy. 

The Coach House. — Beyond the smithy is the coach 
house, containing among other things a reproduction of Wash- 
ington's coach. This was designed and made for use in the 
pageant given by Philadelphia under the able direction of Dr. 
Ellis Paxon Oberholtzer. 

Next to the Chapel is the handsome estate of Mrs. Sarah 
Swift Zulich. The River Road below the Chapel affords beauti- 
ful views of the river, the rich farmland, and in the far dis- 
tance, Norristown. Rising above the trees beyond the bridge 
are the red tile roofs and tower of the summer residence built 
by the late John F. Betz, of Philadelphia. The picturesque boat- 
house at the dam is also a part of the estate. On the right in 



THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 95 

the valley are quarries and limekilns and the large building used 
by the "Ehret Magnesia Manufacturing Company." 

The Provost Guard. — The only other point of interest on 
the road is the site of the provost guard. The guardhouses 
stood back of a small stone house on the right of the road, but 
nothing marks their location. During the encampment these 
houses were crowded with those who had broken the laws, many 
of the offenders being led out to receive their punishment in 
stripes, disgrace or death. The punishments were brutal in the 




Colonial Seals in the Cloister. 

extreme, "one hundred lashes on the bare back" being an ordi- 
nary penalty for theft. 

In the diary of Lieutenant McMichael we have this descrip- 
tion of one of the distinctively camp punishments : "March 15. I 
this morning proceeded to "the grand parade, where I was a 
spectator of the drumming out of Lieutenant Enslin, of Colonel 
Malcolm's regiment. He was first drum'd from right to left of 
the parade, thence to the left wing of the army; from that to 
the center, and lastly transported oyer the Schuylkill with 
orders never to be seen in the camp in the future. This shock- 
ing scene was performed by all the drums and fifes in the army — 
the coat of the delinquent was turned wrong side out." 



9 6 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



It is a little over a mile from the chapel to the entrance 
to the Right Line Boulevard. The distance is almost the 
same to Betzwood, the station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
and somewhat less to Port Kennedy, on the Reading. To 
reach the stations, turn to the left at the track, which runs to 
the quarries, and pass through the village. The Port Ken- 
nedy Station adjoins the Port Kennedy Inn. Betzwood is on 
the other side of the river, and to reach it turn to the right 
near the inn and cross the bridge. The River Road makes a 
pleasant route to Bridgeport and Norristown. Those intend- 
ing to make the tour of the camp should turn to the right 
at the track at the foot of the hill and follow the road toward 
King of Prussia. The distances as given on the signpost are 
Bridgeport, 6 miles ; King of Prussia, 2 miles, and Valley Forge, 
2 miles. 




Relics of the Revolution. 

Valley Forge Museum. 




The National Arch to the Officers and Private Soldiers 
of the Continental Army. 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 

THE Right Line Boulevard. — Just beyond the village, 
at the top of the hill, the boulevard is reached. This fol- 
lows the line of the encampment, which was defended 
by a breastwork, of which now there are few traces. 
In the held to the left may still be seen the depression which 
marks the site of a redoubt, and another will be passed on the 
line of the boulevard. 

The house beyond the boulevard and near Trout Creek is 
the residence of Senator P. Frank Croft. It was the office of 
the commissary and at times the headquarters of Col. Daniel 
Morgan, whose military history is a series of brilliant achieve- 
ments. He took part in the defeat of Burgoyne, who being 
introduced to him is said to have exclaimed : "My dear sir, you 
command the finest regiment in the world !" Morgan and his 
men reached Whitemarsh in November, Gates only allowing 
them to come to the support of the main army after Wash- 
ington had sent Hamilton to him with a special message. During 
the months here Morgan and his men were actively employed 
in scouting and foraging. 

Muhlenberg's Brigade. — The entrance to the Valley 
Forge Park is on the crest of the hill. 

Within a short distance of the King of Prussia road are 
the remains of what was locally known as "Mordecai Moore's 
Fort," so called from being on his land. The commission has 
placed a battery on the faintly marked redoubt, over which the 
plow had so often passed. At this point the first huts of the 
encampment stood, being those of Muhlenberg's Brigade of Vir- 
ginia and Pennsylvania regiments. Their brave commander, 
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was born only a few miles away, 
at Trappe, and was the son of the famous Rev. Henry Melchior 
Muhlenberg. He was prepared for the ministry and served as 
pastor of Lutheran congregations. In 1772 he went to Virginia, 
following the large German immigration from Pennsylvania and 
other middle states. He went to England in order to receive 

(98) 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 99 

Episcopal ordination and on his return was rector of Wood- 
stock. Washington asked him to accept a colonel's commission, 
and when it was received he preached his farewell sermon, in 
the course of which he said: "There is a time for all things — 
a time to preach and a time to pray — but there is also a time 
to fight, and that time has now come." Pronouncing the bene- 
diction he threw back his preacher's gown, disclosing the Con- 
tinental uniform. Proceeding to the door he ordered the drums 
to beat for recruits, the response being the enlistment of about 
three hundred. Read's description of the scene may well be re- 
called on such a spot as this : 

A moment there was awful pause — 
When Berkley cried, "Cease, traitor ! cease ! 
God's temple is the house of peace !" 

The other shouted, "Nay, not so, 
When God is with our righteous cause ; 
His holiest places then are ours, 
His temples are our forts and towers, 

That frown upon the tyrant foe ; 
In this, the dawn of Freedom's day, 
There is a time to fight and pray !" 

And now before the open door — 

The warrior priest had ordered so — 
The enlisting trumpet's sudden roar 
Rang through the chapel, o'er and o'er. 

Its long reverberating blow, 
So loud and clear, it seem'd the ear 
Of dusty death must wake and hear. 
And there the startling drum and fife 
Fired the living with fiercer life; 
While overhead, with wild increase, 
Forgetting its ancient toll of peace, 

The great bell swung as ne'er before : 
It seemed as it would never cease ; 
And every word its ardor flung 
From off its jubilant iron tongue 

Was "War! War! War!" 



IOO GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

"Who dares" — this was the patriot's cry, 
As striding from the desk he came — 

"Come out with me, in Freedom's name, 
For her to live, for her to die?" 
A hundred hands flung up reply, 
A hundred voices answered "I !" 

Under such a man as that it is no wonder that his regi- 
ment, the 8th Virginia, gained a reputation for discipline and 
bravery, nor that he rose to honor in the service. While the 
army lay here he often rode over to the Trappe to visit his 
family, and stories are told of his narrow escapes from capture 
by the British on these occasions. 

The marker placed by the State of Pennsylvania bears the 
following inscription : 

continental army 
valley forge, december 19, 1/7/ — june l8, ij/8 

greene's division 
major-general nathaniel greene 

Muhlenberg's erigade 
brigadier-general j. peter g. muhlenberg 

commanding 

'german regiment," pennsylvania line, lieutenant-colonel 

lewis weltner 

raised july 12, i776— mustered out january i/8l 

1st regiment, virginia infantry, colonel richard parker 

5th regiment, virginia infantry, colonel abraham buford 

9th regiment, virginia infantry, lieutenant-colonel burgess 

BALL 

I3TH REGIMENT, VIRGINIA INFANTRY 
VIRGINIA STATE REGIMENT OF INFANTRY, COLONEL GEORGE GIBSON 

The Commission has named this part of the boulevard in 
honor of the soldier-preacher "Brigadier-General Muhlenberg 
Avenue." 

Muhlenberg's Headquarters were within easy reach of the 
brigade, and the old house still stands by Trout Creek, a half 
mile or so across the fields to the east. The present owner, 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 1 01 

Mr. Edward H. Binns, of Pittsburgh, cherishes the picturesque 
farmhouse, and finds real pleasure in its associations with the 
distinguished patriots who have enjoyed its hospitality. 

Weedon's Brigade. — The next brigade was also from 
Virginia. It was commanded by Gen. George Weedon. He 
and his men had won distinction in the gallant support which 
they had given to General Greene in the battle of Brandy- 
wine, helping to check the British pursuit and enabling the 




The Old Smithy. 

Americans to rally. General Weedon occupied the house which 
stood almost on the site of that which stands to the south of 
this point, but nearer Trout Creek. When the army moved 
from Gulph Mills the people in this neighborhood had no notice 
of the intention to place the winter camp here. Their first 
intimation was the approach of the army. An officer hastily 
rode up to the farmhouse of Abijah Stephens and chalked on 
the door "Headquarters of General Weedon," and ordered the 
family to make ready to receive its uninvited guests. Mrs. 



102 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Stephens had a large quantity of buckwheat and at once mixed 
a tub full of batter. While others baked cakes she prepared 
soup, roast beef, etc. Much to the rage of the General those 
who first reached the house did not stand upon ceremony, but 
satisfied their hunger before he arrived. He remained in 
camp only a short time, resigning on account of a question of 
rank with General Woodford. General Weedon's Orderly Book 
is preserved in the library of the American Philosophical Society, 
and is one of the greatest authorities on the affairs in this camp. 
It has been published by the Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker un- 
der the auspices of the Society. 

Baron DeKalb, a brigadier in the French service, afterwards 
made the house his headquarters. At the crossroads beyond the 
house is an old blacksmith shop built of logs, and said to have 
been used as a smithy by the soldiers. 

The Commission has placed upon the marker the following 
record of the officers and regiments of this brigade : 

continental army 
valley forge, december ip, 1777 june l8, i778 

Greene's division 
major-general nathaniel greene 

weedon's BRIGADE 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE WEEDON 

COMMANDING 
I3TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, PENNSYLVANIA LINE, COLONEL WALTER 

STEWART 

(RAISED AS "STATE REGIMENT OF FOOT," MARCH I, 1777, ATTACHED 

TO PENNSYLVANIA LINE AS I3TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, 

NOVEMBER 12, 1777 J CONSOLIDATED WITH 2D 

REGIMENT INFANTRY, JULY I, 1 778) 

2D REGIMENT, VIRGINIA INFANTRY, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHARLES 

DABNEY 

6TH REGIMENT, VIRGINIA INFANTRY, COLONEL JOHN GIBSON 

IOTH REGIMENT, VIRGINIA INFANTRY, COLONEL JOHN GREEN 

I4TH REGIMENT, VIRGINIA INFANTRY, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL 

WILLIAM DAVIS 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. IO3 

Greene's Division. — The division to which these brigades 
belonged was commanded by the "fighting Quaker," Major- 
General Nathanael Greene. He was only thirty-six years of age 
when he came to Valley Forge. Upon the news of the Battle of 
Bunker Hill the Rhode Island Legislature raised three regiments 
and made Greene a brigadier-general. He was selected by the 




Major-General Nathanael Greene. 

From the original portrait owned by Mrs. William Benton Greene. 

soldiers to welcome Washington, the commander-in-chief, and 
the two men became firm friends, Washington quickly recognizing 
his sterling abilities. He was made a major-general on the 9th 
of August, 1776, and while at Valley Forge became quartermaster- 
general, but reserved his right to command on the field of battle, 
for he was pre-eminently a soldier. "He began his serv- 



104 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

ice at the breaking out of the war, and was never out of 
the harness until the end. He and Washington were the only 
general officers present at the siege of Boston who remained in 
the army until the British withdrew from the United States in 
1783. He fought in every battle in which Washingotn com- 
manded, except one, until he went South, with ever-increasing 
success and skill, and although he had no previous military ex- 
perience whatsoever, he developed himself, by observation, study 
and reflection, not only into the strategist which he naturally 
was, but into a brilliant tactician as well — strategists are born, 
tacticians, largely, made. His tactics on the field of battle were 
as great as was his strategy in his campaigns. He was a man of 
impetuous, dashing nature, yet he schooled himself and so 
checked his natural impulses that he became the incarnation of 
caution. It, isr difficult to find anything to blame in his military 
work from' the. beginning, and impossible in those years in which 
he exercised independent command. His plans and his methods 
were molded largely after those of Washington himself. No 
man could be more wary, more prompt or more bold than he, 
when the exigency demanded the one course or the other." 

For his splendid work at Eutaw Springs, Congress pre- 
sented him with "a British stand of colors'' and a gold medal. 
Two years later it resolved to present him two pieces of field 
ordnance taken from the British army, at the Cowpens, Augusta, 
or Eutaw, engraved with the substance of the commendations of 
the resolution. 

Upon his death, Wayne wrote, "My dear friend, General 
Greene, is no more. He was great as a soldier, greater as a 
citizen, immaculate as a friend." 

De Kalb's Division.: — The next division of the Ameri- 
can army, consisting of the brigades of Patterson and Learned, 
was commanded by Major^General Johann de Kalb. Baron de 
Kalb had won distinction in the .'Seven-Years War, and at the 
request of Franklin and Deane came to America to aid in the 
struggle for liberty. Congress made him a major-general in the 
Continental army on the 15th of September, 1777, four days 
after the Battle of Brandywine. : In the Battle of Camden, i-n 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. IO3 

which he commanded the Delaware and Maryland troops, he 
fought with a courage that was inspiring, but fell at last with 
sixteen wounds to die shortly after the battle in the hands 
of the British. 

Patterson's Brigade. — Beyond Weedon's Brigade was 
that of John Patterson, a native of Connecticut, but a citizen 
of Massachusetts. Within eighteen hours after the news of 
the Battle of Lexington had been received he was on his way to 
Boston with a regiment of minute-men which he had quickly 
enrolled and equipped. In the trenches of Charlestown and 
in the woods of Canada these men proved their heroism. Of 
the 600 men that left New York on the latter expedition only 
220 returned. This remnant took part in the battles of Tren- 
ton and Princeton, and the movements that followed, and came 
to Valley Forge to add another chapter to the account of their 
sufferings. Colonel Patterson had well earned the promotion 
which came to him on February 21, 1777, when he was made 
brigadier-general. 

The marker bears the record of four Massachusetts regi- 
ments, as follows : 

IOTH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY-, COLONEL THOMAS MARSHALL 
IITH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COLONEL BENJAMIN TUPPER 

I2TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COLONEL SAMUEL BREWER 
I4TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COLONEL GAMALIEL BRADFORD 

Among all the men encamped at Valley Forge there was 
no more picturesque group than that of the members of the 14th 
Regiment, nor any destined to become as famous. They were 
immortalized by Irving's apt description of them as "Colonel 
Glover's amphibious Marblehead regiment." Most of them were 
''Marblehead fishermen and sailors, hardy, adroit and weather- 
proof; trimly clad in blue jackets and trousers." In the famous 
retreat from Long Island it was these men upon whom Washing- 
ton relied for the success of his plan to extricate the army from 
its perilous position, and they shared with him the glory of that 
achievement. In that dark, tempestuous Christmas night when 
Washington and his little army crossed the Delaware and at- 



106 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

tacked the British at Trenton it was again this amphibious regi- 
ment which manned the boats, forcing them through the drift- 
ing ice, thus making that victory possible. 

On land they won their laurels, too. In the second battle 
of Freeman's Farm "even the stolid Hessians expressed their 
amazement when they saw these brave Marbleheaders dash 
through the fire of grape and canister and over the dead bodies 
of their comrades, through the embrasures, over the cannon, 
with the same agility with which they formerly climbed to the 
main-top or traversed the backstays, bayoneting the cannoneers 
at their posts . . . Glover's troops evinced the coolness and 
agility of their attack, and showed that they could use the bayonet 
with as much skill and effect as the marline or handspike on 
board ship." After this they had to endure the more severe 
test of endurance upon these hills, but here again they proved 
themselves heroes by their patient suffering and indomitable 
spirit in the face of all discouragements. 

The Maine Marker. — The State of Maine was the first 
outside of Pennsylvania to erect a memorial of its troops at 
Valley Forge. At the time of the Revolution its territory was 
included in the Colony of Massachusetts, but from it many 
men entered the ranks of the Continental army. The marker 
was dedicated October 17, 1907, being received on behalf of the 
State of Pennsylvania by William H. Sayen, President of the 
Valley Forge Commission. Inscription : 

TO COMMEMORATE THE OFFICERS AND MEN FROM 
THAT PART OF NEW ENGLAND NOW KNOWN AS THE 
STATE OF MAINE, WHO SERVED IN MASSACHUSETTS 
REGIMENTS IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY UNDER WASH- 
INGTON AT VALLEY FORGE IN THE WINTER OF 1777-8, 
SHARING THE HARDSHIPS THERE ENDURED. THIS MEMO- 
RIAL IS ERECTED BY THE STATE OF MAINE, UNDER THE 
AUSPICES OF THE MAINE SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE 
AMERICAN REVOLUTION, I907. 

From this point there is a fine view of the hills upon 
which the army was encamped. Across the valley to the right, 
with its woodland setting, is the Washington Memorial Chapel, 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. IO7 

then the Soldiers* Hut, and the Waterman Monument. At the 
end of the woodland stands the castle-like Defenders' Gate. 
Farther up the road is the Star Redoubt and General Hunting- 
ton's headquarters. To the left of this is Huntington Redoubt. 
Between the redoubt and the Gulph Road were the huts of Hunt- 
ington's and Conway's Brigades, while to the left of the old road 
was Maxwell's. Mount Joy, surmounted with the observatory, 
rises almost directly in front of the spectator. On its left 
slope is Washington Redoubt. On the hill farther to the left 
were encamped Wayne's and Scott's Brigades. 

LearnecTs Brigade. — Next to Patterson's Brigade was 
Learned's Brigade of Massachusetts regiments. Wounded at Dor- 
chester Heights, Ebenezer Larned or Learned, the son of a cap- 
tain of rangers, was out of the service for nearly a year. In 
April he had been made a brigadier-general and as such com- 
manded a brigade at Saratoga, where he and his troops distin- 
guished themselves by their great bravery. 

The marker bears the following inscription : 

CONTINENTAL ARMY 
VALLEY FORGE, DECEMBER ICj, I/// ; JUNE l8, I//S 

DE KALB'S DIVISION 
MAJOR-GENERAL BARON DE KALB 

LEARNED'S BRIGADE 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL EBENEZER LEARNED 

COMMANDING 
2ND MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COL. JOHN BAILEY 
8TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COL. MICHAEL JACKSON 
QTH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COL. JAMES WESSON 

Glover's Brigade. — The last brigade on this ridge was 
commanded by Brigadier-General John Glover, after whom this 
part of the boulevard has been named. This is the third brigade 
of Massachusetts troops encamped here, and consisted of four 
regiments. One misses in these the old 21st, with whom Colonel 
Glover won fame, as the 14th this was now under the command 
of Patterson, as previously stated. 



I08 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE, . 

Gen. John Glover was one of the best drillmasters in the 
army. Despite his small stature he was able to inspire men 
with profound respect for his authority, and his tireless energy 
was used to advantage in perfecting military movements. At 
the outbreak of the Revolution he raised a thousand men and 
joined the army at Cambridge. 

General Glover's Brigade consisted of four regiments, given 
on the tablet as follows : 

1ST MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COLONEL JOSEPH VOSE 

4TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COLONEL WILLIAM SHEPARD 

I3TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COLONEL EDWARD WIGGLESWORTH 

I5TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, COLONEL TIMOTHY BIGELOW 

The Massachusetts Monument. — To the left of the 
boulevard stands the exedra erected by the State of Massa- 
chusetts in honor of her sons who served in the brigades on 
this crest. It is built of Barre granite. Above the seat is the 
legend : 

ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SUB LIBERTATE OUIETAM 

On the ends are unsheathed swords with the dates 1777 and 
1778. The arms of Massachusetts are in bronze on the face 
of the granite tablet, and below them is the following inscription: 

THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY A GRATEFUL COMMONWEALTH IN 

MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS OF MASSACHUSETTS WHO 

SERVED AT VALLEY FORGE 10, DECEMBER I777- 

19 JUNE I778 

The exedra was dedicated November 18, 191 1, the exer- 
cises being held in the Washington Memorial Chapel. These 
were in charge of Mr. Thomas Franklin Pedrick, Sergeant- 
at-Arms. After prayer by the chaplain of the day, the Rev. 
W. Herbert Burk, Air. YV. H. Sayen, President of the Valley 
Forge Park Commission, made the address of welcome, which 
was responded to by the Hon. Arthur S. Adams. The orator of 
the day was General Philip Reade, U. S. A., through, whose 
zealous efforts the monument was erected. 

A bronze tablet on the back of the exedra gives the names 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 



109 




The Massachusetts Monument. 

and rank of one hundred and fifty-six officers of Massachusetts 
of the rank of captain or higher, who served at Valley Forge. 
This record was secured by General Reade, who spared neither 
time nor money in his efforts to make it complete. 
The inscription is given in full : 



MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIERS WHO SERVED AT VALLEY FORGE, PA., 

UNDER HIS EXCELLENCY, GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, 

BETWEEN 19 DEC, 1777, AND x 9 JUNE, 1 778 

GENERAL OFFICERS 
BRIG.-GEN. HENRY KNOX, CHIEF OF ARTILLERY 
BRIG.-GEN. JAMES MITCHELL VARNUM 
BRIG.-GEN. JOHN PATERSON 
BRIG.-GEN. JOHN GLOVER 
BRIG.-GEN. EBENEZER LEARNED 



HO GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

STAFF OFFICERS 

ADJUTANT GENERALS, COL. TIMOTHY PICKERING, 
COL. ALEXANDER SCAMMELL 

CAPT. CALEB GIBBS, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S GUARD 

ATTACHED 
COL. JONATHAN BREWER 
COL THOMAS NIXON, 6TH MASS. INFANTRY, 
LIEUT. COL. CALVIN SMITH, 6TH MASS. INFANTRY. 

ARTILLERY 
COL. JOHN CRANE, 3D ARTILLERY. 
BRIG. MAJ. SAMUEL SHAW 
CAPT. THOMAS SEWARD 
CAPT. WINTHROP SARGENT, 3D CONTL. ARTILLERY. 

THE BRIGADES OF BRIDADIER-GENERALS HENRY KNOX, JOHN GLOVER, 

JOHN PATTERSON AND EBENEZER LEARNED WERE REPRESENTED 

AT VALLEY FORGE, PA., BY THE FOLLOWING NAMED 

OFFICERS OF MASSACHUSETTS TROOPS 

glover's BRIGADE 
BRIGADE MAJORS 
SIMON LEARNED JOHN BAILEY 

1ST MASS. INFANTRY 

COL. JOSEPH VOSE CAPT. ABRAHAM TUCKERMAN 

LIEUT. COL. ELIJAH VOSE CAPT. ORRINGH STODDARD 

MAJOR THOMAS COGSWELL CAPT. MOSES ASHLEY 

CAPT. ROBERT DAVIS CAPT. JEREMIAH MILLER 

CAPT. NATHANIEL CUSHING CAPT. GEORGE SMITH 
CAPT. ABRAHAM HUNT 

4TH MASS. INFANTRY 

COL. WILLIAM SHEPARD CAPT. REUBEN SLAYTON 

LIEUT. COL. EBENEZER SPROUT CAPT. THOMAS FISH 

MAJ. SETH BANNISTER CAPT. GEORGE WEBB 

CAPT. CALEB KEEP CAPT. ISAAC POPE 

CAPT. LIBBEUS BALL CAPT. JOB ALVORD 

CAPT. MOSES KNAPP CAPT. JOHN WRIGHT 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 



Ill 



I3TH MASS. INFANTRY 



COL. EDW. WIGGLES WORTH 
•LIEUT. COL. DUDLEY COLEMAN 

MAJOR JOHN PORTER 

CAPT. JOSEPH MCNALL 
CAPT. THOMAS WILLINGTON 

CAPT. AARON HAYNES 



CAPT. NICHOLAS BLAISDELL 
CAPT. DANIEL PILSBURY 
CAPT. NATHANIEL ALEXANDER 
CAPT. NOAH ALLEN 
CAPT. ISRAEL DAVIS 



i5th mass. infantry 
col. timothy bigelow capt. edmund munro 

lieut. col. henry haskell capt. adam martin 

capt. sylvanus smith capt. joseph hodgskin 

capt. joshua brown capt. paul ellis 

capt. william gates capt. daniel barnes 

John Patterson's brigade 
ioth mass. infantry 
col. thomas marshall 
lieut. col. ephraim jackson 
maj. nathaniel winslow 
capt. john thomas 
capt. jacob wales 



CAPT. SAMUEL KING 

CAPT. JOSIAH SMITH 

CAPT. AMASA SOPER 

CAPT. CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL 

CAPT. WILLIAM WARNER 



CAPT. BENJAMIN WALCUTT 



IITH MASS. INFANTRY 



COL. BENJAMIN TUPPER 

LT. COL. NOAH MOULTON LITTE- 

FIELD 
CAPT. MOSES GREENLEAF 
SURGEONS MATE JOHN JONES 
CAPT. BILLY PORTER 



CAPT. SAMUEL PAGE 
CAPT. DAVID WHEELWRIGHT 
CAPT. SAMUEL THOMS 
CAPT. BENJAMIN FARNUM 
CAPT. GEORGE WHITE 
CAPT. RICHARD MAYBERRY 



I2TH MASS. INFANTRY 

COL. SAMUEL BREWER CAPT. ELISHA BREWER 

LIEUT.-COL. SAMUEL CARLTON CAPT. JOSIAH JENKINS 

MAJ. TOBIAS FERNOLD CAPT. JAMES DONNELL 

CAPT. JOHN CHADWICK CAPT. NATHAN WATKINS 

CAPT. SILAS BURBANK CAPT. DANIEL MERRILL 



112 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



I4TH MASS. INFANTRY 

COL. GAMALIEL BRADFORD CAPT. THOMAS TURNER 

LIEUT. COL. BARACHIAH BASSET CAPT. JOHN RUSSELL 

MAJ. ELNATHAN HASKELL CAPT. JAMES COOPER 

MAJ. SAMUEL TUBS CAPT. JOSHUA EDDY 

CAPT. ZABEDEE REDDING CAPT. ISAIAH STETSON 

CAPT. JOSEPH WADSWORTH CAPT. JOHN LEMONT 



COL. JOHN BAILEY 
MAJ. ANDREW PETERS 
CAPT. JUDAH ALDEN 
CAPT. SETH DREW 



EBENEZER LEARNED S BRIGADE 
2D MASS. INFANTRY 

CAPT. EPHRAIM BURR 

CAPT. ISAAC WARREN 

CAPT. SAMUEL DARBY 

CAPT. HUGH MAXWELL 
CAPT. GEORGE DUNHAM 



COL. MICHAEL JACKSON 
LIEUT. COL. JOHN BROOKS 
MAJ. WILLIAM HULL 



STH MASS. INFANTRY 

CAPT. BENJAMIN BROWN 

CAPT. JOHN BURNHAM 

CAPT. JOHN WILEY 



CAPT. EBENEZER CLEAYELAND 
CAPT. EPHRAIM CLEYELAND 
CAPT. JAMES KEITH 



CAPT. JAMES BANCROFT 
CAPT. JAMES YARNUM 
ADJT. JONATHAN ALLEN 



9TH MASS. 
COL. JAMES WESSON 
LIEUT. COL. EZRA BADLAM 
LIEUT. COL. JAMES MELLEN 
SURGEON JOHN THOMAS 
CAPT. NATHAN DIX 
CAPT. JOSEPH PETTINGILL 



INFANTRY 

CAPT. JOHN BLANCHARD 
CAPT. ABRAHAM CHILDS 
CAPT. SAMUEL BARTLETT 
CAPT. NAHUM WARD 
CAPT. SAMUEL CARR 
CAPT. AMOS COGSWELL 



COL. HENRY JACKSON 
LIEUT. COL. DAYID COBB 
CAPT. JAMES JONES 
MAJ. JOHN STEELE TYLER 



6TH MASS. INFANTRY 

CAPT. WILLIAM NORTH 

CAPT. THOMAS CARTWRIGHT 

CAPT. GAWEN BROWN 

CAPT. THOMAS HUNT 




The National Arch. 



114 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

The Gulph Road. — Just beyond the marker of Glover's 
Brigade the boulevard is crossed by the Gulph Road, along 
which the army had moved from its last resting place. A mile 
away is the old "King of Prussia" tavern, which they passed 
on the march, and along the road are the old milestones, the last 
of which told the soldiers that Philadelphia was 18 miles distant. 

It was along this road that the army was drawn up on the 
day that General Lee returned from his captivity in Philadel- 
phia, and across this crest Washington and his officers escorted 
him in honor to the Headquarters. 

The Gulph Road is the most direct route from this point to 
Washington's headquarters and the Reading station at Valley 
Forge. To reach these, turn to the right, follow the road over 
the hill to Washington Inn and turn to the right. To reach the 
Washington Memorial Chapel and Valley Forge Museum turn to 
the right at the schoolhouse, follow the Washington Lane to the 
River Road and turn to the right. Most visitors will prefer to 
follow the boulevard as it passes the Wayne Monument and other 
points of interest. A bridle path, beginning between the Gulph 
Road and the guardhouse, makes an attractive detour. 

The National Arch. — Years ago an appeal was made to 
Congress on behalf of Valley Forge, but in vain. The idea 
then was to make the encampment a National reservation. 
While this attempt failed, the growing interest in this historic 
site made it possible, especially after the State of Pennsylvania 
had done so much through the Valley Forge Park Commission, 
to hope for some National recognition. The Hon. Irving P. 
Wanger introduced a bill in Congress for the erection of two 
arches at a cost of $50,000. These were to be placed at two 
of the entrances to the Park. The bill went to the Senate, and 
was amended by the substitution of one arch for two, and of 
$100,000, instead of $50,000. 

''The act of Congress approved June 25, 1910, authorizes 
the erection upon the site of the encampment during the winter 
of 1777-1778 of the American Army at Valley Forge, Pennsyl- 
vania, of a memorial arch in commemoration of the patriotism 
displayed and the suffering endured by General GEORGE 
WASHINGTON, his officers and men during said winter. 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 115 

The National Arch was designed by Paul Philippe Cret, 
Professor of Design in the University of Pennsylvania, and was 
erected under the supervision of the Government engineers. 
The inscription of dedication is in bronze letters on the front : 

TO THE OFFICERS AND PRIVATE SOLDIERS 

OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY 

DECEMBER IQ, 1777 JUNE 19, I778 

Over the arch is the following : 

ERECTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS JUNE 2$, I9IO. 

On the back of the arch is Washington's tribute to the 
soldiers of Valley Forge : — 

NAKED AND STARVING AS THEY ARE 

WE CANNOT ENOUGH ADMIRE 

THE INCOMPARABLE PATIENCE AND FIDELITY 

OF THE SOLDIERY 

WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE 

FEBRUARY 1 6, 1 7 78 

Within the arch on the right is a bronze tablet bearing the 
arms of the United States and below it the following list of 
officers : 

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
GEORGE WASHINGTON 
MAJOR GENERALS 
DE KALB MIFFLIN 

GREENE STEUBEN 

LAFAYETTE STIRLING 

LEE SULLIVAN 

BRIGADIER GENERALS 
ARMSTRONG PATTERSON 

DU PORTAIL POOR 

GLOVER SCOTT 

HUNTINGTON SMALLWOOD 

KNOX VARNUM 

LEARNED WAYNE 

MCINTOSH WEEDON 

MAXWELL WOODFORD 

MUHLENBERG 



Il6 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

AND HERE 

IN THIS PLACE 

OF SACRIFICE 

IN THIS VALE OF HUMILIATION 

IN THIS VALLEY OF THE SHADOW 

OF THAT DEATH OUT OF WHICH 

THE LIFE OF AMERICA ROSE 

REGENERATE AND FREE 

LET US BELIEVE 

WITH AN ABIDING FAITH 

THAT TO THEM 

UNION WILL SEEM AS DEAR 

AND LIBERTY AS SWEET 

AND PROGRESS AS GLORIOUS 

AS THEY WERE TO OUR FATHERS 

AND ARE TO YOU AND ME 

AND THAT THE INSTITUTIONS 

WHICH HAVE MADE US HAPPY 

PRESERVED BY THE 

VIRTUE OF OUR CHILDREN 

SHALL BLESS 

THE REMOTEST GENERATION 

OF THE TIME TO COME 

HENRY ARM1TT BROWN 

Poor's Brigade. — On the slopes to the right, at some dis • 
tance from the Gulph Road, the New Hampshire and New York 
troops were encamped. They had as their commander one of 
the bravest men in the army, Enoch Poor, who was to become a 
martyr to the cause of liberty. In his honor the Commission 
has named this part of the boulevard "Brigadier-General Poor 
Avenue." He was described by Washington as "an officer of 
distinguished merit, who as a citizen and a soldier, had every 
claim to the esteem of his country." He came to Valley Forge 
from the defeat of Burgoyne, in which happy result he had taken 
a distinguished part, leading the furious charge which broke the 
line of the British. His command had suffered terribly at Still- 
water, two-thirds of the whole American loss in killed, wounded 
and missing being sustained by his brigade. 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. IT/ 

"I must beg lieve to Request your Excellency to order the 
Clothing (or a part), now in your State Store, to be sent to 
Camp for the 2nd and 4th York Regts. ; for it is beyond De- 
scription to Conceive what the men Suffer, for want of Shoes, 
Stockings, Shirts, Breeches and Hats. I have upwards of 
Seventy men unfit for Duty, only for want of the articles of 
Clothing; Twenty of which have no Breeches at all, so that 
they are obliged to take their Blankets to Cover their Naked- 
ness, and as many without a Single Shirt, Stocking or Shoe ; 
about Thirty fit for Duty; the Rest Sick or lame, and God 
knows it won't be long before they will all be laid up, as the 
poor Fellows are obliged to fitch wood and water on their 
Backs, half a mile with bare legs in Snow or mud." 

Thus wrote Col. Philip van Cortlandt to Governor Clinton 
on the 13th of February pleading for the poor men who were 
encamped here. What he says about the water supply was 
only too true, for the nearest spring is Todd's, down in the 
valley. 

Upon the marker the Commission has placed a tablet giving 
the following information about the regiments in the brigade : 

1ST REGIMENT, NEW HAMPSHIRE INFANTRY, COLONEL JOSEPH CILLEY 
2D REGIMENT, NEW HAMPSHIRE INFANTRY, COLONEL NATHAN HALE 
3D REGIMENT, NEW HAMPSHIRE INFANTRY, COLONEL ALEXANDER 

SCAMMELL 
2D REGIMENT, NEW YORK INFANTRY, COLONEL PHILIP CORTLANDT 
4TH REGIMENT, NEW YORK INFANTRY, COLONEL HENRY LIVINGSTON 

Col. Nathan Hale is, of course, not to be confounded with 
Capt. Nathan Hale, whose capture and execution as a spy make 
a sad chapter in the history of the Revolution. His execution 
took place in New York, September 22, 1776. Even Colonel 
Hale, who was a New Hampshire man, and, like his namesake, 
from Connecticut, died a martyr's death, was not at Valley 
Forge. He was captured in the Battle of Hubbardton, July 7, 
1777, and died in prison, September 23, 1780. 

This was the brigade of famous colonels. 



Il8 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

In the Battle of Saratoga one cannon was taken and retaken 
five times, so fierce was the conflict. Colonel Cilley, commander 
of the first regiment, finally leaped upon it, waved his sword, 
and "dedicating the gun to the American cause," fired it upon the 
British with their own ammunition with fearful effect. 

During Lafayette's visit to New Hampshire in 1824 an old 
veteran called upon him for a sentiment, and the response was 
"Light-infantry Poor, and Yorktown Scammel." Both were 
New Hampshire men, and both had given their lives for their 
country. Scammel was encamped here until he was made 
adjutant-general, and as such became a member of Washington's 
official family, January 5, 1778. One has described him as "the 
knight sans peur et sans reproche of the Revolution." He was 
the same height as Washington, 6 feet 2 inches, and was pro- 
portioned as an Apollo. At Yorktown he was captured by the 
Hessians and so wounded after his capture as to die from the 
effects of the murderous treatment. Brave, able and chivalrous 
he was dearly beloved in the army. 

Weems tells of the storming of two redoubts before York- 
town which were carried immediately. "The British called for 
quarters: A voice of death was heard, 'Remember poor Scam- 
mel!' 'Remember, gentlemen, you are Americans!' was re- 
joined by the commander; and instantly the points of the Ameri- 
can bayonets were thrown up towards heaven." 

Colonel Livingston and Colonel van Cortlandt, after dis- 
tinguished services, were honored with the rank of brigadier- 
general at the close of the war, and both took part in the wel- 
come extended to Lafayette on his visit to America in 1824. 

Wayne's Brigade. — The two columns rising to the right 
and left of the boulevard were erected by the State of Penn- 
sylvania to mark the beginning of the encampment of the 
Pennsylvania Line. These are of granite, surmounted by bronze 
eagles. On the bases are placed four bronze bas-reliefs of 
Generals Armstrong, Muhlenberg, Cadwalader, St. Clair, Har- 
man, Irvine, MifHin and Reed, Pennsylvania's contribution to 
the War of the Revolution. The sculptor is Mr. Bush-Brown. 

Thatcher, in his journal, describes the Pennsylvanians as 
"remarkably stout and hardy men, many of them exceeding six 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 



119 



feet in height. They are dressed in white frocks or rifle shirts 
and round hats." He also speaks of their great skill with the 
rifle, but this may have been the exception rather than the rule. 
General Wayne, their commander, at any rate, was not greatly 
impressed with the value of the rifle. In a letter to Richard 
Peters, Secretary of War, he says : "I don't like rifles. I would 
almost as soon face an enemy with a good musket and bayonet 
without ammunition, as with ammunition without a bayonet, for 
although there are not many instances of bloody bayonets, yet I 
am confident that one bayonet keeps off another, and for want of 
which the Chief of the Defeats we have met with ought in a 
great measure to be attributed." 





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The Soldiers' Hospital. 

Wayne also considered a soldier's uniform another great 
element in successful warfare, as he declares in a letter to 
Washington: "I must acknowledge," he says, "that I have an 
insuperable bias in favor of an elegant uniform and soldierly 
appearance; so much so, that I would rather risk my life and 
reputation at the head of the same men in an attack, clothed 



120 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



and appointed as I could wish, merely with bayonets and a 
single charge of ammunition, than to take them as they appear 
in common, with sixty rounds of cartridges." Washington fully 
endorsed this, saying, "I agree perfectly with you as to the im- 
portance of dress." 

Both bayonets and uniforms were scarce articles at Valley 
Forge. Until Steuben came the soldiers used the former for 
spits. The latter were chiefly rags. Earlier in 1777 Wayne 
wrote that in one of his regiments the soldiers "never received 




The Pennsylvania Columns. 



any uniform except hunting shirts, which are worn out, and 
altho' a body of fine men, yet from being in rags and badly 
armed they are viewed with contempt by the other troops, and 
begin to despise themselves." He made frantic efforts to clothe 
his troops, even purchasing the cloth needed, but to no effect. 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 121 

At one time the supplies could not be forwarded to the camp 
because the council had failed to fix the time for shipment, and 
on another occasion the clothes were held because buttons were 
needed. Wayne himself had formerly appeared dressed with 
exemplary neatness, but here, that he might not make the rags 
of his poor soldiers appear more conspicuous, he wore "a dingy 
red coat, a 1 black cravat and tarnished hat." 

Wayne was deeply moved by the sufferings of his men and 
did all in his power to relieve them. Here is a portion of a 
letter to the Secretary of War in which he tells of some of the 
horrors of this camp : "I am not fond of danger, but I would 
most cheerfully agree to enter into action, once every week, in 
place of visiting each hut of my encampment (which is my con- 
stant practice) and where objects strike my eye whose wretched 
condition beggars all description. . . . For God's sake give 
us, if you can't give us anything else, give us linen that we may 
be Enabled to preserve the poor Worthy fellows from the Ver- 
min that are now devouring them. . . . Some hundreds we 
have buried who have died of a disorder produced by want of 
Clothing." 

The Second Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Wil- 
liam Butler, occupied the ground nearest to the memorial col- 
umns, and on the right of the boulevard are still to be seen the 
marks of their huts. The marker gives this information in 
regard to this brigade : 

SECOND BRIGADE 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM BUTLER 

COMMANDING 

4TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM BUTLER 

RAISED JANUARY II, 1777 | MUSTERED OUT NOVEMBER 3, I783 

5TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, COLONEL FRANCIS JOHNSTON 

RAISED JANUARY I, 1777; MUSTERED OUT JANUARY I, 1783 

8TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, COLONEL DANIEL BRODHEAD 

RAISED JULY 20, I776; MUSTERED OUT JANUARY 17, I781 

IITH REGIMENT INFANTRY, COLONEL RICHARD HAMPTON 

RAISED OCTOBER 25, 1 776 

CONSOLIDATED WITH IOTH REGIMENT INFANTRY JUNE 24, 1 778 



122 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

To the east of the Second Brigade was encamped the First, 
under Colonel Thomas Hartley. It consisted of the following 
regiments: First Regiment Infantry, Colonel James Chambers; 
raised July I, 1776; mustered out November 3, 1783. Second 
Regiment Infantry, Colonel Henry Bicker; raised October 25, 
1776; mustered out November 3, 1785. Seventh Regiment In- 
fantry, Lieutenant-Colonel David Grier ; raised January 1, 1777 ; 
mustered out January 17, 1781. Tenth Regiment Infantry, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Adam Hubley; raised October 25, 1776; mustered 
out January 17, 1781. Hartley's Additional Regiment of Infantry, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan Connor; raised January 11, 1777; 
consolidated with Eleventh Regiment Infantry, January 13, 1779. 

Brigadier-General Anthony Wayne. — The Pennsyl- 
vanians were honored in having as their commander one of the 
greatest and most popular men of the Revolution, Anthony 
Wayne. He was a born fighter, and it was said "where Wayne 
went there was a fight always ; that was his business." His un- 
expected successes in perilous enterprises won for him the title 
of "Mad," but he was far from the rash man many imagine him 
to have been. Washington called him "prudent," and a study of 
his life reveals the fact that he had a cool head as well as 
impetuous valor, and was withal sagacious and tactful. The 
spirit of the man is reflected it seems to me in two of his say- 
ings, both addressed to Washington : "It is not in our power to 
Command Success, but it is in our power to produce a Convic- 
tion to the world that we deserve it," and "General, I'll storm 
hell, if you plan it." 

Wayne was born at Easttown, only a few miles away, and 
knew this country well. To the south, near the Centreville 
road, was his headquarters while at Valley Forge. The Sons 
of the Revolution have placed a marker on the road, which tells 
the visitor that "600 yards east from this stone is the head- 
quarters of Major-General Anthony Wayne." 

The Wayne Statue. — The equestrian statue of Major- 
General Anthony Wayne was erected by the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania at a cost of $30,000, through a Commission con- 
sisting of Col. John P. Nicholson, Richard M. Cadwalader. 



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The Wayne Monument. 



124 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Esq., and John Armstrong Herman, Esq. It was dedicated on 
the 20th of June, 1908, with impressive ceremonies, in which the 
Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution, and Battery E, 
Third U. S. Artillery, took part. The orator of the day was 
the Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker, LL. D. 

H. K. Bush-Brown was the sculptor who has been most 
successful in his effort to present Wayne as the ideal warrior, 
such as "every man in arms should wish to be." 

A replica of the statue has been erected at Stony Point, 
N. Y. 

The bronze tablets bear the arms of the State and the fol- 
lowing inscriptions : 

ANTHONY WAYNE 

COLONEL CHESTER COUNTY BATTALION OF MINUTE MEN, JULY 21, 17/5 

COLONEL 4TH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY BATTALION, JANUARY 3, I776 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL CONTINENTAL ARMY, FEBRUARY 21, 1777, TO 

NOVEMBER 3, I783 

BREVETTED MAJOR-GENERAL SEPTEMBER 30, I783 

"RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY THAT THE THANKS OF 
CONGRESS BE PRESENTED TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WAYNE 
FOR HIS BRAVE, PRUDENT AND SOLDIERLY CONDUCT IN 
THE SPIRITED AND WELL-CONDUCTED ATTACK ON STONY 
POINT ; THAT A GOLD MEDAL EMBLEMATICAL OF THE 
ACTION BE STRUCK AND PRESENTED TO BRIGADIER- 
GENERAL WAYNE." 
MAJOR-GENERAL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF UNITED STATES ARMY, 
MARCH 5, 1792, TO DECEMBER 15, I796 
CHAIRMAN OF THE CHESTER COUNTY COMMITTEE, 1774 
DEPUTY TO THE PROVINCIAL CONVENTION, I774 
MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY, 1774, I784-I785 
DELEGATE TO THE PROVINCIAL CONVENTION, 1775 
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, I775"I776 
MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF CENSORS, 1 783 
MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION TO RATIFY THE CONSTI- 
TUTION, I787 
BORN IN CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, JANUARY I, 1745 
DIED AT PRESOU' ISLE, PENNSYLVANIA, DECEMBER 15, I796 

"LEAD ME FORWARD" — WAYNE AT STONY POINT 



THE RIGHT LIXE BOULEVARD. 



125 



Scott's Brigade. — This strategic point was occupied by 
General Scott's Brigade. The line of earthworks is plainly seen 
above the boulevard. The steps from the boulevard lead up to a 
lunette upon which the Commission has planted a battery, thus 
telling the use of the earthwork. Like Washington, Charles 
Scott had learned his first lessons of war in the ill-fated expedi- 
tion under Braddock, in which he served as a non-commissioned 
officer. At the outbreak of the war he raised the first company 
south of the James River, and was made colonel of the 3d Vir- 
ginia Battalion. At the conference of officers at Whitemarsh 




Knox's Headquarters. 



to decide whether an attack should be made on Philadelphia, 
he voted with the minority in the affirmative. The others of 
the same opinion were Lord Stirling, Wayne and Woodford. 
His bravery was unquestioned, and at Monmouth he was the 
last to leave the field. 

From this point there is a beautiful view of the rich farm- 
lands and the Valley Forge hills. A grand panorama of the 



126 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

famous Chester Valley lies before one. To the right is Mount 
Joy, and directly in the foreground of the picture is General 
Knox's headquarters — a white house with red roof. The fields 
between and a long way beyond belong to the Hon. Philander 
C. Knox's "Valley Forge Farm." His residence lies in the valley 
beyond, the old farmhouse being occupied by M'. and Mrs. J. R. 
Tindle. 

General Knox's Headquarters. — Naturally one recalls 
the romance of General Knox and his young wife, who lived 
here during the time of the encampment. She was the daugh- 
ter of the Secretary of the province of Massachusetts, who was 
a strong Tory. Lucy Flucker was the belle of Massachusetts, 
and when her love for John Knox, the poor bookseller, was dis- 
covered her incensed father told her she must decide between 
her family and her lover. The choice had already been made, 
and the young lovers were married, her family soon leaving the 
country. After the battles of Lexington and Concord, Knox 
gave up his business and entered the army, his devoted wife 
following him through all the campaigns. 

When Washington took command of the army he was 
sadly in need of cannon. The young Boston bookseller's sug- 
gestion to obtain a supply from the forts on Lake George and 
the Canadian frontier was ridiculed, but in a personal inter- 
view the enthusiastic patriot convinced Washington of the 
feasibility of the plan and Knox was given permission to carry 
it out. The result approved Washington's judgment of the 
man. Through almost trackless forests he dragged the cannon, 
fifty-five in all, hundreds of miles to the camp at Boston, where 
he was received amid the acclamations of the troops. His reward 
was a commission as a brigadier-general of artillery, and, better 
far, the friendship of Washington, whose constant companion 
he became. 

Mrs. Knox was a close friend of the Commander-in-Chief 
and his wife, both of whom came to rely upon her judgment. 
"In social and ceremonial affairs she was the arbiter in the 
army, and afterward the chief adviser of Mrs. Washington in 
New York and Philadelphia." Here she helped in the sewing 
and knitting at the headquarters, and by her spirit and cheer- 




Statue of Baron vox Steuben, 



128 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

ful endurance of privation greatly encouraged the suffering 
soldiers. 

The boulevard makes a sharp curve round the extremity 
of the hill before descending to cross to Mount Joy. 

Here the Commission has placed a marker, giving the fol- 
lowing information : 

scott's brigade 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL CHARLES SCOTT 

COMMANDING 

4DDITI0NAL INFANTRY REGIMENT, PENNSYLVANIA LINE, COLONEL 

JOHN PATTON 

(RAISED JANUARY II, 17// ; CONSOLIDATED WITH IITH REGIMENT 

INFANTRY, JANUARY 13, 17/9) 

4TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY 

8TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY, COLONEL ABRAHAM BOWMAN 

I2TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY 

VIRGINIA REGIMENT INFANTRY-AT-LARGE, COLONEL WILLIAM GRAYSON 

This point gives one of the best views of the wooded slopes 
of what might have been the last stand for American liberty. 
Washington Redoubt occupies the commanding position just above 
the point where the boulevard crosses the Centreville Road. To 
the left of this lay Woodford's Brigade, the site being indicated 
near enough by the narrow clearing. 

Directly in front, on leaving the marker, one can see the 
statue of Steuben, and in the distance Waterman Monument, 
and above it on the hill the Cloister of the Colonies and the 
Washington Memorial Chapel, and to the left, the Defenders' 
Gate. 

Statue of Baron von Steuben. — The bronze statue of 
Major General Frederick Wilhelm von Steuben the famous 
drill-master of Valley Forge, is the work of J. Otto Schwizer, 
and was given by the National German-American Alliance. The 
formal presentation was made October 9, 1916, when Adjutant 
General Thomas J. Stewart, accepted the statue on behalf of 
Governor Brumbaugh, and Mr. William H. Saven on behalf of 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 120, 

the Valley Forge Park Commission. Addresses were made by 
Dr. C. T. Hexamer, Mr. Herman Ritter, Jr., and J. B. Mayer. 

The granite base bears a bas-relief, depicting a squad of 
soldiers drilling before the stern commander, and the following 
inscription : 

MAJOR GENERAL FREDERICK WILHELM VON STEUBEN 
ERECTED BY THE NATIONAL GERMAN-AMERICAN ALLIANCE, I915. 

Washington and Steuben met at Valley Forge, and Wash- 
ington's last official act as commander-in-chief was to write a 
cordial letter to the Baron in which he said: "Although I have 
taken frequent opportunities both in public and in private of 
acknowledging your great zeal, attention and abilities in per- 
forming the duties of your office, yet I wish to make use of this 
my last moment of my public life to signify in the strongest 
terms my entire approbation of your conduct and to express 
my sense of the obligations the public is under to you for your 
faithful and meritorious services." 

Monument to the Unknown Dead. — At the sharp 
curve in the boulevard, Valley Forge Chapter, Daughters of the 
American Revolution, has erected a monument to the unknown 
dead at Valley Forge. The massive block of granite, standing 
near where the faded flags and rough stones mark the graves 
of unknown soldiers of the Revolution, and near the spot 
marked by the Commission as a burial ground, is most im- 
pressive. The bronze tablet bears this inscription : 

IN MEMORY OF 

UNKNOWN SOLDIERS 

BURIED AT VALLEY FORGE 

1777 — 1778 

ERECTED BY 

VALLEY FORGE CHAPTER 

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

This monument was dedicated June 18, 191 1, when the 
oration was delivered by the Rev. Charles H. Rorer, D.D. The 
introductory address was made by the Hon. Samuel W. Penny- 
packer. Mrs. Joseph Fornance, Regent of the Valley Forge 



130 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



Chapter, unveiled the stone, assisted by Mrs. F. I. Naile and 
Mrs. Wilfrid Stauffer, and made the speech of presentation. 
The monument was accepted by Mr. William H. Sayen, President 
of the Valley Forge Park Commission, on behalf of the State 
of Pennsylvania. The chaplain of the day was the Rev. W. 
Herbert Burk. 

A Soldiers' Hospital. — In the wood on the right, pro- 
tected by the hill, stood one of the brigade hospitals, and on its 




Monument to the Unknown Dead. 

site the Park Commission has built a reproduction of the original. 
As it is completely furnished it is well worth visiting. A path 
to the right of the statue leads to it. 

In the orders of January 13, 1778, are the following direc- 
tions for the erection of the hospitals "The Flying Hospital 
Hutts are to be 15 feet wide and 25 long in the clear and the 
story at least 9 feet high to be covered with boards or Shingles 



THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD. 



131 



only without any dirt, Windows made on each side and a 
Chimney at one end, Two Such Hospitals are to be made for 
each Brigade at or near the Center and if the ground permit 
of it not more than 100 yards distance from the Brigade." 

Two days later the Quartermaster-General was "positively 
ordered to provide Straw for the use of the Troops and the 
Surgeons to see that the sick when they are ordered to the 
Hutts assigned for the Hospital are plentyfully suplied with 
this article." From the orders of April 17th we learn that the 
regimental quartermasters were "directed to go Into the Country, 
and make contracts with proper Persons for bringing in Milk 
and other Necessaries for the Sick." 




Interior of the Hospital. 

Dr. Waldo, one of the surgeons at Valley Forge, has left 
this description of the sick soldier as he knew him : "There comes 
a Soldier — His bare feet are seen thro' his worn Shoes — his 
legs nearly naked from the tatter'd remains of an only pair of 
stockings — his Breeches not sufficient to cover his Nakedness — 



132 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

his shirt hanging in Strings — his hair dishevell'd — his face meagre 
— his whole appearance pictures a person forsaken & discour- 
aged. He comes, and crys with an air of wretchedness & dis- 
pair — I am Sick — my feet lame — my legs are sore — my body 
cover'd with this tormenting Itch — my cloaths are worn out — my 
Constitution broken — my former Activity is exhausted by fatigue, 
hunger & Cold — I fail fast, I shall soon be no more ! and all the 
reward I shall get will be — 'Poor Will is dead.' " 

Mr. Bolton says that "From the records of the general hos- 
pital at Sunbury, Penn., for 1777-80, it appears that about four- 
tenths of the patients (not counting the convalescents) were the 
wounded ; about three-tenths suffered from diarrhoea or dysen- 
tery, and one-tenth from rheumatism. To state this in another 
form, lack of proper food and shelter crippled the army as 
much as did the fire of the enemy." Here at Valley Forge 
small-pox must be added to the list, as well as the itch. In such 
a camp filth was a large factor in disease and death. The 
smoke of gunpowder and pitch daily might conceal its presence 
for awhile, but it remained to do its deadly work. 

The hut is furnished with cots and an operating table, and a 
plentiful supply of herbs is suspended from the ceiling. 

Remains of the brigade bake ovens have been found close 
by. These were a necessity, as this brigade was so far dis- 
tant from the bakehouse. 

Between the boulevard and the Centreville Road lies the 
burial ground, while to the right is the site of General Knox's 
stables. The Artillery Park was located on the ground along 
the Washington Lane. 

The Centreville Road, to the left, is the most direct route to 
Devon, three miles away. Visitors desiring to reach the Valley 
Creek Road should turn to the left, follow the Centreville Road 
as far as the first house on the right, turn to the right, pass 
General Knox's headquarters, and turn to the right at the 
creek. This makes a delightful route to Washington's head- 
quarters. 

Washington Lane, which passes in front of the inner line 
of fortifications, passes the site of General Knox's Artillery, the 
Camp School and the Grand Parade, and is the most direct route 



By His E X C E L L E N C Y ' 

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esquire, 

G E N E R A L and COMMANDER hi C H i E F of the Forces 
of the United States of Amtrica. 

BY Virtue of the Power and Direction to Me efpe- 
daily given, I hereby enjoin and require all Perfons 
reiidmg within feventy Miles of my Read Quarters to? 
threih one Half of their Gr \m by the i ft Day of February, 
and the other Half by the ift Day of March next enfuing, 
on Pain, in Cafe of Failure, of having all that mall re- 
main in Sheaves after the Period above, mentioned, feized 
by the Commiilarics and Quarter-Matters of zhc Army, 
and paid for as Straw. 

GIVEN under ray Hand^ at Head Starters, near 
the Valley Forge, in Philadelphia County ', this 20th 
Day of December^ 1777. 

G. JV A S H I. N G T N. 
By His Excellency's Command, 
Robert H. Harrison, Sec'y. 



LANCASTER: PsontD sr JOHN D U N L A P. 



A Valley Forge Broadside. 

From the original in the possession of the Historical Society 

of Pennsylvania. 



134 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



to the Valley Forge Museum of American History and the Wash- 
ington Memorial Chapel. Turn to the right at the end of the 
lane. 

The Camp Road, the first to the left at Washington Redoubt, 
passes the site of a blacksmith shop, the site of Washington's 
Marquee, Maxwell's Brigade and Conway's Brigades terminates 
at Washington Lane near the River Road. 

The second road to the left at Washington Redoubt is the 
Inner Line Boulevard, the route described after the Washington 
Lane and Camp Road. 










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THE WASHINGTON LANE AND CAMP ROAD. 

VISITORS to the Washington Memorial Chapel and Valley 
Forge Museum who have not time to make the longer 
tour of the camp should return to Washington Lane, and 
turn to the left. The Lane runs along the entire front of the 
fortifications from Huntington Redoubt to Washington Redoubt. 
The former is plainly seen standing out from the hillside on the 
right. To the south of it was General Huntington's brigade 
of Connecticut troops. The Camp Road has been continued 
across the Gulph Road to a point near the River Road. This 
runs close by the marker of Huntington's Brigade. 

Huntington's Brigade. — When Congress asked for 
eighty-eight regiments of infantry it decided to call upon 
Connecticut for eight of them. That State not only gave this 
large percentage, and more, of the men required, but also fur- 
nished supplies so bountifully as to win the title of "the 
Provision State." Washington wrote to Gov. Jonathan Trumbull 
telling of the dire need of the army and at once the Committee 
of Safety provided $200,000 with which to purchase "live beef" 
to be sent to Valley Forge. The first drove to reach the camp 
was devoured in five days. 

Connecticut deserves high honor for the way in which her 
soldiers were cared for while in the field. In a letter to Governor 
Trumbull Washington said : "Among the troops returned unfit 
for duty for want of clothing, none of your State are included. 
The care of your legislature in providing for their men is highly 
laudable, and reflects the greatest honor upon their patriotism 
and humanity." 

Much of this credit was due to the zealous patriotism and 
shrewd business ability of the old Governor, whose sterling 
qualities won the love and honor of the Commander-in-Chief. 
In his difficulties he was wont to appeal to Governor Trumbull 
with the remark, "Let us hear what Brother Jonathan has to 
say." This is supposed to have been the origin of the familiar 
personification of the United States as "Brother Jonathan." 

(136) 



THE WASHINGTON LANE AND GULPH ROAD. 137 

Although the Connecticut troops were well clad, they had 
to suffer with the whole army on account of the disordered 
commissary department. On the 22d of December, General 
Huntington wrote as follows to Washington: "I received an 
order to hold my brigade in readiness to march. Fighting 
would be far preferable to starving. My brigade are out of 
provisions nor can the commissary obtain any meat. I am ex- 
ceedingly sorry in being the bearer of complaints to Head- 
quarters. I have used every argument my imagination can in- 
vent to make the soldiers easy, but I despair of being able to 
do it much longer." 

The site of the encampment is marked by the Park Com- 
mission which furnishes the following information in regard to 
the brigade : 

Huntington's brigade 
brigadier-general jedediah huntington 

commanding 
1st regiment, connecticut infantry, lieutenant-colonel 

samuel prentice 
2d regiment, connecticut infantry, colonel charles webb 
5th regiment, connecticut infantry, colonel philip b. bradley 
7th regiment, connecticut infantry, colonel heman swift 

Conway's Brigade — The Conway Cabal. — Next to 

Huntington's Brigade was Conway's. The site of this is marked 
by the battery, placed by the Park Commission on the remains 
of a redoubt, and behind it the marker, with this inscription : 

continental army 
valley forge, december 19, 1 777 june l8, i778 

Stirling's division 

major-general lord stirling 

pennsylvania brigade 

commanding 

3d regiment infantry, colonel thomas craig 

raised january i. 1777; mustered out november 3, i783 



I38 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

6th regiment infantry, lieutenant-colonel josiah harmar 

raised january i, 1777; mustered out june i, 1783 

9th regiment infantry, lieutenant-colonel george nagel 

raised october 25, i//6 ; mustered out january 17, i781 

i2th regiment infantry, colonel william cooke 

raised october i, i776; consolidated with 3d regiment infantry, 

JULY I, I778 

This was Conway's Brigade. His name is inseparably con- 
nected with Valley Forge on account of the dastardly intrigue 
in which he was engaged with Gates and others to supplant 
Washington. Gates had been successful in his efforts to dis- 
place Schuyler, and had taken to himself the glory of the vic- 
tory over Burgoyne, and now sought Washington's office. He 
found favor in high places and a ready tool in Thomas Con- 
way, an Irish adventurer, who had spent much time in France 
and who had been piqued at Washington's opposition to' his 
undeserved rapid advancement in the army. Colonel Wilkinson, 
aide-de-camp to General Gates, told one of Lord Stirling's staff 
of a letter which Conway had written to Gates. Lord Stirling 
reported the matter to Washington, who promptly wrote to 
Conway as follows : "Sir, — A letter which I received last night 
contained the following paragraph : Tn a letter from General 
Conway to General Gates, he says, Heaven has determined to save 
your country, or a zveak General and bad counsellors would have 
ruined it.' I am, sir, your humble servant George Washington." 

The attempts of the principals to exculpate themselves 
blazoned abroad their perfidy and increased the prestige of 
Washington. The attempt to corrupt Lafayette failed, and the 
"Conway Cabal," as it was called, utterly collapsed after the 
fiasco of the much-heralded invasion of Canada. Conway's con- 
ditional resignation was unconditionally accepted by Congress. 
Later he was wounded by General Cadwalader in a duel, and 
under the impression that he would not live he wrote a letter 
of apology to Washington. His wound was not mortal, and on 
his recovery he returned to France. 

Colonel Malcom's regiment was added to the brigade by 
Washington on October nth. This fact is of interest because 



THE WASHINGTON LANE AND GULPH ROAD. 1 39 

it helps us locate "Little Burr," as he was called, the story of 
whose ruined life forms one of the saddest pages in American 
history. As lieutenant-colonel in Malcom's regiment he was 
encamped on this hillside, although much of his time seems to 
have been spent at Gulph Mills, in command of the picket, where 
he ruled with a firm hand and won the hatred of his men. 
He was strongly prejudiced against Washington, whom he dis- 
liked. Alexander Hamilton, whom he killed in a duel years 
after, was at this time one of Washington's aides. 

Here, too, we must place James Monroe, fifth President of 
the United States. He was a lieutenant in the 3d Virginia Regi- 
ment, and was among the wounded at Trenton. He took part 
in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and while the 
army was encamped at Whitemarsh he was made aide-de-camp 
to Gen. James Alexander, claimant to the earldom of Stirling, and 
commonly known as Lord Stirling. Major Monroe resigned on 
December 20, 1778, and his military services concluded with an 
assignment to duty by Thomas Jefferson. 

The Park Commission has located a blacksmith shop a few 
feet back of the marker. 

The Old Schoolhouse. — At the intersection of the Gulph 
Road and Washington Lane stand two schoolhouses, that to 
the east being the Camp School, now the Camp Tea House, was 
used by the children of the district, while that to the left was 
used by the troops as a hospital. It was built in 1705 by Letitia 
Aubrey, the second daughter of William Penn. The Park Com- 
mission has restored the building to its original condition, and 
thus speaks of its work: "The desks and benches around the 
walls of the building with the Master's desk erected upon the 
platform, as in ye olden style,' have been placed in their proper 
positions, and thus the young of the present have an object 
lesson as to the manner with which the inculcation of the youth 
with the rudiments of education was imparted in earlier days." 
Since it was opened to the public, May 15, 1908, it has attracted 
large numbers of the visitors to the park, who have found it 
well worth seeing. An interesting collection of relics dug up 
in the Park is on exhibition. 



I40 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

To the left of the walk there is a small cannon, a four- 
pounder, from the palmetto fort on Sullivan's Island, in the 
harbor of Charleston, S. C. After doing service in its defense 
it was used on a Continental privateer. The large cannon on 
the right was presented by the Navy Department of the United 
States. It bears the arms of Great Britain and the initials G. 
R., showing that it was once the property of King George III. 




The Old Schoolhouse. 

Washington Redoubt is little more than a quarter of a mile 
beyond the schoolhouse, and between them was the artillery park. 
Those who have the time will do well if, instead of continuing 
by the Washington Lane, they return to the Gulph Road and 
turn to the left. A quarter of a mile from the lane turn to the 
left on the Camp Road. 

Maxwell's Brigade. — At the corner the Park Commis- 
sion has placed a marker to show the location of the New Jer- 



THE WASHINGTON LANE AND GULPH ROAD. 141 

sey troops which occupied this ground. The tablet gives the 
following information : 

sullivan's division 
major-general. john sullivan 

maxwell's brigade 
brigadier-general william maxwell 

commanding 

1st new jersey infantry, colonel mathias ogden 
2d new jersey infantry, colonel israel shreve 
3d new jersey infantry, colonel elias dayton 
4th new jersey infantry, colonel ephraim martin 

Site of Washington's Marquee. — A short distance be- 
yond the New Jersey marker there is a road to the right, leading 
up to the Inner Line Boulevard. By continuing on the Camp 
Road another road is soon reached, having the same termina- 
tion. To the left of this point the Park Commission has located 
Washington's Marquee. 

Washington's First Headquarters. — When the army 
went into camp Washington did not establish his headquarters 
in any of the farmhouses in the neighborhood, but had his 
marquee placed on this hillside in close proximity to the artil- 
lery park. This seems to be borne out by the first Valley Forge 
orders — "The Guards to parade near the park." His intention 
had been to make his permanent quarters with the soldiers, as 
he did until Christmas Day. 

Washington's quarters consisted of two tents, one a large 
banqueting tent, capable of seating forty or fifty persons, and 
a smaller tent for his personal use. The former is owned by 
the Government and the latter is now in the Valley Forge Mu- 
seum, and is the greatest relic of Washington at Valley Forge. 
A description of this tent will be found in the account of the 
Washington Memorial Chapel and the Valley Forge Museum. 
These buildings lie to the northeast and are plainly visible from 
this point. 

The decision to encamp here had been reached only after 
a long and tedious argument into which we need not enter. 



142 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



The decision was met with a protest from the Assembly of 
Pennsylvania, whose members considered it the duty of Wash- 
ington to keep the field throughout the winter. He was stung 
to the quick by this utter lack of consideration for the men 
under him and addressed a long letter to the President of Con- 
gress. Washington has sometimes been regarded as passion- 
less, but these are the words of a man thoroughly aroused : 
"We have," he says, "by a field-return this day (December 23d) 
made no less than two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight 
men now in camp unfit for duty, because they are barefoot and 



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Interior of the Camp School. 



otherwise naked. By the same return it appears that our whole 
strength in Continental troops, including the eastern brigades, 
which have joined us since the surrender of General Burgoyne, 
exclusive of the Maryland troops sent to Wilmington, amounts to 
no more than eight thousand two hundred in camp fit for duty; 
notwithstanding which, and that since the 4th instant, our num- 
bers fit for duty, from the hardships and exposures they have 
undergone, particularly on account of blankets (numbers having 
been obliged, and still are, to sit up all night by fires, instead of 



THE WASHINGTON LANE AND GULPH ROAD. I43 

taking comfortable rest in a natural and common way), have 
decreased near two thousand men. 

"We find gentlemen, without knowing whether the army 
was really going into winter quarters or not (for I am sure no 
resolution of mine would warrant the remonstrance), repro- 
bating the measure as much as if they thought the soldiers 
were made of stocks or stones, and equally insensible of frost 
and snow ; and moreover, as if they conceived it easily practicable 
for an inferior army, under the disadvantages I have described 
ours to be, which are by no means exaggerated, to confine a 
superior one, in all re*spects well-appointed and provided for 
a winter's campaign, within the city of Philadelphia, and to 
cover from depredation and waste the States of Pennsylvania 
and Jersey. ... I can assure these gentlemen, that it is a 
much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrances 
in a comfortable room by a good fireside, than to occupy a 
cold, bleak hill, and sleep under frost and snow, without clothes 
or blankets. However, although they seem to have little feeling 
for the naked and distressed soldiers, I feel superabundantly for 
them, and, from my soul, I pity those miseries, which it is 
neither in my power to relieve or prevent." 

While reading these words one is reminded of Lowell's 
tribute to Washington : 

Dumb for himself, unless it were to God, 
But for his barefoot soldiers eloquent, 

Tramping the snow to coral where they trod, 
Held by his awe in hollow-eyed content. 

In these few lines the poet has told the story of Valley 
Forge and its hero. 

In the "Memoirs of Chevalier de Pontgibaud there is an in- 
teresting description of Washington as he appeared at Valley 
Forge. "Washington," says he, "was intended by nature for 
a great position — his appearance alone gave confidence to the 
timid, and imposed respect on the bold. He possessed also 
those external advantages which a man born to command 
should have; tall stature, a noble face, gentleness in his glance, 



144 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



amenity in his language, simplicity in his gestures and ex- 
pression. A calm, firm bearing harmonized perfectly with these 
attributes. ... He appeared to be about forty. He dressed 
in the most simple manner, without any of the marks dis- 
tinctive of a commanding officer." 

The West Chester State Normal School has in its pos- 
session a portrait of Washington which was painted here by 
Charles Willson Peale, at that time an officer in the army. It 
is painted on bedticking. 

General Knox's Artillery. — The next point of interest 
along the Camp Road is the site of General Knox's Artillery. 
Close to the road stood the camp blacksmith shop. In front of 
this was placed the artillery, and here the Commission has placed 
a battery. Between the Camp Road and the Washington Lane 
the marks of the soldiers' huts have been found. These roads 
meet at the beginning of the Inner Line Boulevard at Wash- 
ington Redoubt. 




'Optimist," the Valley Forge Imp. 




The Observatory. 



THE INNER LINE BOULEVARD. 

The Inner Line Boulevard begins at Fort Washington and 
follows the line of the earthworks. It is one of the most delight- 
ful drives in the park. Pedestrians will find a shorter route by 
entering the woodland to the right of the redoubt. The path 




On the Inner Line Boulevard. 
leads up the hillside, crosses the boulevard and continues to the 
observatory on Mount Joy. In front of the line of earthworks 
it passes a rifle pit. This will be seen to the right of the path. 
Washington Redoubt. — Washington Redoubt was one 
of the most important defenses of the American army at Valley 
Forge, and is well worth a visit. The old earthwork was in its 

(I 4 6) 



THE INNER LINE BOULEVARD. 147 

original condition a few years ago. It was of small size, its 
longest side being less than a hundred feet. The traverse, the 
earthwork which divided it into two parts, was seventy-five feet 
long. This was intended to protect its defenders from an enfilad- 
ing fire. The present fort was made during the past year and has 
no historic interest. A lunette to the west of the redoubt is 
marked by cannon. 

The ground falls away steeply from the boulevard on the left, 
and through the trees are charming views of the Chester Valley. 



Woodford's Brigade. — -On the right of the boulevard 
the Commission has located the sites of soldiers' huts. These 
were probably occupied by the men of Gen. William Wood- 
ford's Brigade. When the Virginia troops assembled at Will- 
iamsburg in the autumn of 1775 he was chosen colonel of the 
Second Virginia Regiment, having established for himself a 
reputation as a soldier in the French and Indian War. The 
choice was a wise one. At Hamp'.on Roads and Great Bridge 
he and his Virginians acquitted themselves wi:h honor in the 
struggle with Lord Dunmore. His ability was recognized, and 
in 1777 he was appointed brigadier-general and given command 
of the First Virginia Brigade. Although he was wounded in 
the hand at the Battle of Brandywine, he took part in the Battle 
of Germantown. and was with the army in its encampment here. 

This hillside will ever be reverenced as the camping ground 
of John Marshall, who as soldier, author, jurist and statesman 
faithfully served his country, and by his wisdom laid deep 
and firm the foundation of constitutional liberty in America. He 
was only twenty-two years old when his regiment, the Eleventh 
Virginia, came to this spot, but already he was giving evidence 
of those rare qualities and great ability with which he was en- 
dowed. Disputes among his fellow officers were referred to 
him for settlement, and his judgments were so fair and his 
reasons for them so sound that they were generally accepted as 
final. Officially he was employed as Deputy Judge Advocate, 
and in this position formed the friendship of Washington and 
Hamilton. 

One of his companions has thus described some of their ex- 



148 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



periences here : "Most of the officers gave to their almost naked 
soldiers nearly the whole of their clothing, reserving only that 
they themselves had on. Slaughter was reduced to a single 
shirt. While this was being washed, he wrapped himself in a 
blanket. From the breast of his only shirt he had wristbands 
and a collar made to complete his uniform for parade. Many 
of his brother officers were still worse off, having no under- 
garment at all ; and not one soldier in five had a blanket. . . . 
Washington daily invited the officers, in rota'.ion, to. dine with 




The Surprise View. 

him at his private table ; but, for want of decent clothing, few 
were enabled to attend. Slaughter being so much better pro- 
vided, frequently went in place of others, that, as he said, 'his 
regiment might be represented.' " 

On the hillside above the boulevard can be seen the low line 
of earthworks. These become more plainly visible as the boule- 



THE INNER LINE BOULEVARD. I49 

vard approaches their western limits. At this point, where a 
guardhouse has been erected, the boulevard makes a sharp turn, 
and passes above the earthworks. Three-eighths of a mile from 
the end of the earthworks the boulevard is crossed by the path 
to the observatory and just beyond this is the observatory road to 
the left. 

The Observatory. — The Park Commission has won the 
gratitude of visitors to Valley Forge by the erection of the 
Mount Joy Observatory, whose platform is 500 feet above the sea- 
level. From this vantage point there is a magnificent view of 
the surrounding country. To aid visitors to the appreciation 
of the strategic value of the site selected by Washington and 
his generals, a cast-iron plate has been placed on the platform, 
giving the direction and distance of each important place in the 
vicinity of Valley Forge. 

The boulevard from its junction with the observatory road 
makes a sharp descent toward Valley Creek, whose waters gleam 
in the sunlight far below, while the Valley Creek Road, like a 
narrow pathway, follows its meanaerings toward the Schuylkill. 
Beyond the woodland are the houses of Valley Forge village, 
standing on the outskirts of the rich farmland which stretches 
away until lost in the blue of the distant hills. Within a short 
distance the earthworks are again approached, and through the 
opening on the right are seen the Washington Memorial Chapel, 
the Waterman Monument and the Soldiers' Hut. The path to 
the left leads down to Washington Spring on the Valley Road, 
making a shorter route to Washington's Headquarters. A short 
distance beyond there is a road to the right by which one can 
reach the Camp Road near the site of Maxwell's Brigade, or at 
the site of Washington's Marquee. Most persons will prefer to 
follow the main line of the boulevard to Huntington Redoubt. 
The line of intrenchments on the right is a reconstruction. For- 
tunately, the Commission will not permit any more work of this 
kind, being determined to preserve the earthworks unaltered save 
by the elements. 

The Earthworks. — As one traces the line of earthworks 
as they appear to-day the question naturally arises, "What has 



*5o 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 



been the effect of the elements upon the original work?" For- 
tunately we can answer that question satisfactorily, for in De- 
cember of 1778, only a few months after the army left here, 
Capt. Thomas Anbury, formerly of Burgoyne's army, passed 
through here as a prisoner of war on his way to Virginia. He 
says : "Our trocps slept in the huts at Valley Forge, which had 
been constructed by the Americans, and we remained till late 
next day for the delivery of provisions before we marched. I 




Line of Intrenchments. 

had a full opportunity to reconnoiter the whole camp. On the 
east and south sides were intrenchments, with a ditch six feet 
wide and three deep, the mound not four feet high, very nar- 
row and easily to have been beat down with a cannon; two re- 
doubts were also begun, but not completed. The Schuylkill was 
on the left, and, as I before observed, hath a bridge across it; 
the rear was mostly covered by an impassable precipice formed 
by Valley Creek, having only a narrow passage near the river. 



THE INNER LINE BOULEVARD. 



I SI 



This camp was by no means difficult of access, for the right was 
attainable, and in one part of the front the ascent was 
scarcely to be perceived. The defenses were exceedingly weak, 
and this is the only instance I ever saw of the Americans hav- 
ing such slight works, these being such that a six-pounder could 
easily have battered down. The ditches were not more than 
three feet deep, and so narrow that a drummer-boy might with 
ease leap over." 





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Intrenchments. 



One much higher in authority had a different idea of these 
works. In response to the demand of the British Government 
for the reasons for the inactivity of the army, General Howe 
replied that he "did not attack the intrenched position at Val- 
ley Forge, a strong point, during the severe season, although 
everything was prepared with that intention, judging it im- 
prudent until the season should afford a prospect of reaping the 
advantages that ought to have resulted from success in that 



152 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

measure ; but having good information in the spring that the 
enemy had strengthened the camp by additional works, and 
being certain of moving him from thence when the campaigns 
should open, he dropped thought of attack." 

The plan for the fortifications at Valley Forge was made by 
General Louis Lebeque Duportail, a graduate of the military 
school of Mezieres. He was an able engineer and one who is 
remembered for the valuable services which he rendered the 
American people throughout the war, and especially at York- 
town. 

The path on the left beyond the line of intrenchments 
leads to the lonely grave of an unknown soldier of the Revolu- 
tion. It was this grave that suggested to Vice-President Fair- 
banks those thoughts which he so beautifully expressed in his 
address in the Washington Memorial Chapel. The grave is only 
a short distance from the boulevard. 

Beyond this the Gulph Road is seen. Between it and the 
boulevard and the Camp Road were the huts of the New Jersey 
troops. 

The New Jersey Monument. — The New Jersey Monu- 
ment was dedicated June 18, 1913. Miss Eleanor Wilson un- 
veiled the monument which was presented by the Hon. James 
F. Fielder, Governor of New Jersey, and accepted for the 
Governor of Pennsylvania by the Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker, 
and for the Valley Forge Park Commission by Mr. William H. 
Sayen. The Rev. William Henry Stewart Demarest, D.D., 
LL.D., President of Rutgers College, was the orator of the day. 

The shaft is 35 feet high, and is surmounted by a Conti- 
nental soldier on guard. On the granite base is a bronze plate 
with the arms of New Jersey and below this a bronze tablet 
with the following inscription : 

ERECTED BY 

THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY 

UPON THE SITE OCCUPIED BY THE 

NEW JERSEY BRIGADE 

INFANTRY LINE CONTINENTAL ARMY 

BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM MAXWELL 



THE VALLEY CREEK. 153 

FIRST REGIMENT COL. MATHIAS OGDEN 
SECOND REGIMENT COL. ISRAEL SHREEVE 
THIRD REGIMENT COL. ELIAS DAYTON 
FOURTH REGIMENT COL. EPHRAIN MARTIN 
DECEMBER IQ 1777 — JUNE l8 I778 

Cut in the plinth is the following: 

NEW JERSEY 

BRIGADE 

CONTINENTAL ARMY 

Col. William Maxwell was elected brigadier-general on Octo- 
ber 23, 1776, to command what was known as the "Second Es- 
tablishment," consisting of four battalions. Colonel Maxwell 
had entered the service of New Jersey upon the first call for 
troops issued October 9, 1775. At that time William Alexander, 
titular Lord Stirling, was made colonel of the First, or Eastern, 
Battalion, while Maxwell commanded the Second. 

It is interesting to read of the enlistment of the First Es- 
tablishment, which served in the Hudson Valley and Canada. 
The men enlisted for a year, and were to be paid five dollars a 
calendar month. As a bounty each private was allowed "one 
felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings, and shoes, 'the men to find 
their own arms.' " A dollar a week was allowed for subsist- 
ence "whilst in quarters" and one and one-third dollars "whilst 
on march to join the army." It took so long to find arms and 
clothing for the troops that it was not until January that Colonel 
Maxwell could report at Albany to General Schuyler. At Ticon- 
deroga an inspection was made in October, when it was re- 
ported that the men were "destitute of many articles of dress, 
supplies of every kind they want, but shoes and stockings they 
are in the last necessity for, many having neither to their 
feet." Evidently this did not dampen the ardor of the men, for 
many re-enlisted and thus became the nucleus of the "Second 
Establishment," that which encamped here. As the troops were 
reported as "sadly in need of clothing" at the time of the 
Battle of Monmouth, their condition in this camp must have 
been deplorable. 




The New Jersey Monument. 



THE INNER LINE BOULEVARD. 



55 



The sufferings which Maxwell's men endured at Valley 
Forge in common with the rest of the army were nothing new. 
Valley Forge only repeated their experiences at Morristown 
during the previous winter. Washington writing on his birth- 
day in '77 to Commissary Irvine said : "The cry of want of 
Provisions comes to me from all Quarters. General Maxwell 
writes word that his men are starving." 




"- 



Site of Maxwell's Brigade. 



They were ready, however, to give a good account of them- 
selves in the movements preceding the winter encampment. 
They formed the vanguard of the army which entered Dela- 
ware when the destination of General Howe was discovered, 
and occupied this dangerous position with honor. At Chadd's 
Ford and Birmingham Meeting House they made a gallant fight 
against overwhelming odds, and fought their way to Chester. 



I56 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Valley Forge is so inseparably connected with Washing- 
ton that everything which is commemorative of his personality 
has the greatest interest here. We associate these hills with 
his heroic endurance and patient suffering. It is good to have 
them reminiscent of his joy. 

The French Alliance. — At 6 o'clock on May 5, 1778, the 
following order was issued : "It having pleased the Almighty 
Ruler of the Universe propitiously to defend the cause of the 
United States of America, and finally, by raising us up a pow- 
erful friend, among the Princes of the Earth, to Estab- 
lish our Liberty and Independence upon lasting founda- 
tions; It becomes us to Set apart a day, for grate- 
fully acknowledging the Divine Goodness, and celebrating the 
Important event, which we owe to his Benign interposition — The 
Several Brigades are to be assembled for this purpose, at 9 
o'clock To-morrow morning, when their Chaplains will com- 
municate the intelligence contain'd in the Postscript from the 
Pennsylvania Gazette of the 2d instant; & offer up a thanks 
giving, and deliver a discourse Suitable to the Occasion — " 

At 9 o'clock on the happiest day at Valley Forge Wash- 
ington came here to worship, and the private prayer beneath 
the leafless trees had its antiphon in the public thanksgiving 
on this green clad hill. The Rev. Andrew Hunter, a Presby- 
terian minister, the brigade chaplain, preached the sermon, but 
of it we have no record. 

From the point where the boulevard crosses the Gulph 
Road there is a fine view of the Schuylkill Valley with Phcenix- 
ville in the distance. The staff at the foot of the hill marks 
the site of Washington's headquarters, whose tile roof can 
be seen to the left of it. Those whose time is limited should 
take this road, turning to the right at the Washington Inn. To 
the right one can trace the Gulph Road as far as the Right Line 
Boulevard. In the open space on the other side of the Gulph 
Road from Maxwell's Brigade were the huts of Conway's. A 
"better view of the site can be had farther along the boulevard, 
opposite the Camp Road, which can be traced almost its whole 
length as it skirts Mount Joy. The best point from which to 
see the sites of Conway's and Huntington's Brigades is the 
Washington Lane. 



THE INNER LINE BOULEVARD. 



157 



By the Gulph Road the Commission has placed a battery. 
Beyond this, on the left, is the grave of an unknown soldier of 
the Revolution. 



Huntington Redoubt. — For some distance there have 
been no intrenchments, but the line is soon reached again, and 



LI I 


y iUvm/ 

l\m\ 

Iff I ,,:\h l|n|'' 
| J. 1 \l jHSf , 


: 1 
h * J 







Huntington Redoubt. 



just beyond the point where they first appear is the path to 
Huntington Redoubt. The traverse is 100 feet long, and the top 
of the earthwork is in some places 20 feet from the bottom of 
the fosse. 

In front of it there has been buried a soldier whose body 
was discovered while making some improvements on one of 
the farms in the neighborhood. From the location of the 
body and the buttons found with it, it is presumed that he is 



158 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

the soldier who suffered in consequence of Wayne's advice to 
a farmer. This man complained to Wayne that the soldiers 
were robbing him. Wayne told him to shoot the next man he 
caught at it, which he did, killing a soldier who was milking 
one of his cows without the formality of a permission. The 
headstone bears the following inscrip'.ion : 

HERE LIE THE REMAINS 

OF A 

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER 

SHOT ON A NEIGHBORING 

FARM DURING THE WINTER 

OF I//7 AND I778 

To the right the Commission has placed a pump for the 
use of visitors to the Park. The hillside on which it is placed 
was the site of Huntington's Brigade. 

Picnic Grounds. — The Park Commission has placed 
tables and benches under the trees near the boulevard for the 
use of picnic parties. Tables will be reserved by the guard if 
application be made to Mr. Samuel S. Hartranft, superintendent 
of the Park, Valley Forge, Pa. 

A large pavilion, for which the State of Pennsylvania made 
a special appropriation in 1909, stands near the boulevard. Its 
shelter is greatly appreciated by those who are caught in a 
shower while visiting the Park. 

The other picnic grounds at Valley Forge are those ad- 
joining the Washington Memorial Chapel. The Washington 
Chapel Grove is back of the Washington Memorial Chapel, and 
is provided with conveniences for picnic parties. 

At the end of the earthworks the Commission has built a 
guardhouse overlooking the River Road. To this the boulevard 
makes a steep descent. Valley Forge Station, on the Reading 
Railway, can be reached more quickly by following the boule- 
vard on the other side of the road, but most persons will prefer 
to turn to the left and follow the River Road to Valley Forge. 
To reach the Washintgon Memorial Chapel, Port Kennedy Sta- 
tion, on the Reading Railway, and Betzwood, on the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad, turn to the right. 




Copyright, iyo2, by Jesse E. Phillips. 

Washington. 
Painted at Valley Forge by Charles Wilson Peale. 



WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS. 

WASHINGTON'S headquarters are the chief object of 
interest beyond the line of fortifications. Following 
the River Road to the left in its descent to Valley- 
Creek, one has a view on the right of the boulevard along the 
river and of the site of the huts of Mcintosh's Brigade and the 
Life Guards. 

Mcintosh's Brigade. — To mark the former the Commis- 
sion has placed a marker among the trees on the right. It bears 
the following inscription : 

continental army 
valley forge, december 19, 1/7/ — june l8, i//8 

Sullivan's division 
major-general john sullivan 

mc intosh's BRIGADE 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL LACHLAN MC INTOSH 

COMMANDING 
1ST NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL THOMAS CLARK 

2D NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL JOHN PATTON 

3D NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL JETHRO SUMNER 

4TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL THOMAS POLK 

5JH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM L. 

DAVIDSON 

6TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL GIDEON LAMB 

7TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL JAMES HOGUN 

8TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL JAMES ARMSTRONG 

9TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COLONEL JOHN WILLIAMS 

The commander of this brigade, Gen. Lachlan Mcintosh, 
was a man of striking personality. His father had gone from 

(160) 



I 62 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

Scotland to settle in Georgia under Gen. E. Oglethorpe, and was 
the originator of the protest of the colonists against the intro- 
duction of African slaves into the colony. While acting as a 
clerk in Charleston, S. C, Lachlan lived in the family of 
the patriotic Henry Laurens. Later he studied mathematics and 
civil engineering, being also greatly interested in military tactics. 
He was appointed brigadier-general in 1776. 

Before the evacuation General Mcintosh was sent to the 
frontier of Pennsylvania and Virginia to quell an insurrection 
of the Western Indians. Washington had a high opinion of 
him, and in a letter to the President of Congress, May 12, 1778, 
said: "I part with this gentleman with much reluctance, as I 
esteem him an officer of great merit and worth. His firm dis- 
position and equal justice, his assiduity and good understand- 
ing, point him out as a proper person to go, but I know his 
services here are and will be materially wanted." 

The Bakehouse. — The Washington Inn stands at the 
junction of the River Road and the Valley Creek Road. It 
includes the old "Mansion House" of the Potts estate, supposed 
to have been erected prior to 1768. When the house was en- 
larged the original building was not disturbed, but the newer por- 
tions were built around the old. This older portion is now 
used as a dining-room of the hotel. In 1773, Joseph Potts con- 
veyed an undivided moiety of Mount Joy Forge to William 
Dewees, who seems to have occupied the house as early as 
1771, and to have carried on the iron works in connection with 
David Potts. 

On August 30, 1777, the Board of War sent the following 
letter to President Wharton: "Sir: There is a large quantity 
of flour spoiling for the Want of baking. It lies at Valley 
Forge; I am directed to request of you that you with the Coun- 
cil will be pleased to order Furloughs to be given to six Bakers 
out of the Militia for the purpose of baking the Flour into hard 
biscuit. Colonel Dewees will receive your order & endeavor to 
find out the Bakers. 

"Rich. Peters, Sec." 



WASHINGTON S HEADQUARTERS. 



163 



To help carry out this order it would seem that Colonel 
Dewees built the large ovens in the cellar. Unfortunately these 
were removed a few years ago. 

During the British occupation of Valley Forge the house 
was not destroyed, as it has been stated, but was ransacked 
and damaged. The story is told of how Mrs. Dewees gathered 
many of the valuables in one room and bravely told the sol- 
diers that they should enter it only over her dead body. Such 
heroism was appreciated and her treasures were saved. How- 




The Bake House, now Washington Inn. 

ever, her feather beds were ripped open and emptied, and one 
of her descendants has a bed made of these feathers. This ap- 
parently wanton act was prompted by the knowledge that a 
feather bed was most often the thrifty housewife's saving bank. 
When the American camp was established the ovens built 
by Colonel Dewees were used to bake much of the bread used in 
the army, when flour could be had. For those who were located 



164 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

at some distance from these ovens others were established, 
and people in the neighborhood made a business of baking for 
the army, receiving a pound of flour in exchange for a pound 
of bread. 

To the soldiers of the army, therefore, this was known as 
the "Bakehouse." It was not made the headquarters of any 
general, but within its walls some of the courts martial were 
held. For instance, on February 4, 1778, Philip Kirk was tried 
and found guilty of supplying the enemy with cattle, and was 
sentenced to be "Confin'd in some Goal in Pennsylvania during 
the Enemies Staying and both his real and personal Estate be- 
taken from him for the Use of the United States of America." 
Only the first part of this sentence was carried out, as Wash- 
ington was of the "opinion that Confiscation of Property is a 
matter not cognizable by Martial Law." On the same day, and 
for the same crime, John Williamson and David Dunn were 
sentenced to receive 250 and 200 lashes, respectively, on the 
bare back. Daniel Williamson was also to receive 200 lashes 
for "attempting to take a number of Sheep into Philada." 
These sentences were executed the next morning on the Grand 
Parade, Washington making the humane provision that "a 
Surgeon from General Patterson's Brigade attend and see that 
the Criminals do not receive more stripes than their strength 
will bear." 

The dam across Valley Creek has been rebuilt in a most 
substantial manner, and a number of boats are kept for the use 
of visitors to Valley Forge. Those who can spare the time 
should row to the head of the pond, where Valley Creek is 
crossed by a covered bridge. Beyond it lies "Valley Forge 
Farm," the summer home of the Hon. Philander C. Knox, Sec- 
retary of State. 

The mill is run by William Lund & Son, woolen spinners. 

Most of the village of Valley Forge lies across the creek in 
Chester County. The road which passes through it is the most 
direct route to Phoenixville, four miles beyond. Near where it 
crosses Pickering Creek is Moore Hall, now the residence of 
Henry C. Pennypacker. This was the headquarters of the Com- 
mittee which Congress sent to Valley Forge to confer with 
Washington on the needs of the army. 



WASHINGTON S HEADQUARTERS. 



165 



The "Mansion House" is just beyond the village, and, like 
the "Washington Inn," includes a building which was built before 
the Revolution. It was used by the army as a hospital. But the 
chief interest in this road lies where it crosses the creek and 
ascends the hill, for here it was that "Light-horse Harry," Capt. 
Henry Lee, made his thrilling escape from the British dragoons. 
He and Alexander Hamilton had been sent to superintend the 
removal of some stores from Valley Forge, and while engaged 




Washington's Headquarters. 



in their work a detachment of British dragoons appeared. Ham- 
ilton and some of the men hastily embarked in a small boat, 
but Lee, fearful of delaying it, leaped upon his horse and 
endeavored to reach the bridge before his pursuers. He and 
his men safely crossed, escaping the enemy's fire at a distance 
of ten or twelve paces, and galloped up the hill closely fol- 



l66 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

lowed. The British soon gave up the chase and returned to 
endeavor to prevent the escape of Hamilton, who, with his men, 
was struggling with the swollen stream. From the sound of 
the firing Lee feared that Hamilton and his party had failed to 
escape, and immediately sent a despatch to Washington, telling 
of his experience and fears. Washington had hardly finished 
reading Lee's message when Hamilton appeared unscathed, but 
fearful for Lee's safety. 

On the hill across the creek were the huts of the artificers. 
This regiment was authorized by Congress in 1777, and as 
formed consisted chiefly of men from Connecticut. 

A contemporary map now owned by the Historical Society 
of Pennsylvania shows, what other maps do not, the location 
of a brigade at this point. This was the Carolinian Brigade, 
which belonged to Lord Stirling's Division, if the map be trust- 
worthy. 

To reach Washington's headquarters turn to the right at 
the Washington Inn. The State has acquired the land between 
the road and Valley Creek, and the ruins of the paper mill have 
been removed. The Commission will maintain the tract as a 
part of the Park. 

The Office of the Valley Forge Park Commission. — 

The second house from the Inn has been fitted up by the Val- 
ley Forge Park Commission as its offices. 

A Camp Hospital. — The stone stable on the right is 
said to have been used as a hospital while the army was en- 
camped here. On the strength of this tradition it was purchased 
by the Valley Forge Memorial Association, and is now owned by 
the State. 

Washington's Headquarters. — Washington's headquar- 
ters are a substantial stone house, two stories high, containing 
five rooms, and connected by a covered way with a stone 
kitchen. As far as we can learn it was built prior to 1768. 
The ground on which it stands is a portion of Mount Joy Manor, 



Washington's headquarters. 107 

which William Penn granted to his daughter Letitia on October 
27, 1701. Passing through the ownership of several persons it 
came into the possession of John Potts, and at the time of the 
Revolution the house and the Valley Mill were owned by his 
son Isaac. 

The house is of small size, being only 21 feet 6 inches 
across the front and 30 feet 6 inches deep. It is in a most excel- 
lent state of preservation, and has to-day the same doors, win- 
dows, locks, etc., which were here when it was occupied by 
Washington. 

In front of this door Washington himself mounted guard, 
as tradition has it, in order to allow the hungry sentinel to go 
inside to be cared for by Mrs. Washington. 

The hallway passes through the building and at the farther 
end opens out into the grounds at the back of the house. The 
doorway on the left leads to the kitchen, while the first on the 
right opens into the front room. 

In the hall has been placed a bronze tablet to commemo- 
rate the work done by the Valley Forge Memorial Association 
in preserving Washington's headquarters. It bears the follow- 
ing inscription : 

THIS TABLET COMMEMORATES 

THE PATRIOTIC SERVICE RENDERED BY 

THE CENTENNIAL AND MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION 

OF VALLEY FORGE 

GENEROUSLY AIDED BY THE 

PATRIOTIC ORDER SONS OF AMERICA 

IN ACQUIRING, RESTORING AND PRESERVING 

THIS HEADQUARTERS 

1878 1906 

The front room has an ample fireplace and closet, and is 
connected with the adjoining room by what is popularly called 
"the secret passage," a small entty. The Valley Park Commis- 
sion is furnishing the old house with the choicest pieces of 
furniture of the period. During the past 3-ear the whitewash 
was removed and the walls were painted. 

In this room one recalls the stately reception with which 
Mrs. Washington welcomed Gen. Charles Lee on the 20th of 



i68 



GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE 



May, upon his return from captivity. He was shown the great- 
est honor. Washington and his officers rode four miles from 
camp to meet him, and they passed to this house through the 
lines of the army. Here he was received by Mrs. Washington 
and "was entertained with an elegant Dinner, and the music 
playing the whole Time." 




Washington's Windows.* 



Washington's Office. — The chief place of interest in the 
building is the next room. This was the office of Washing- 
ton. Here during that trying winter he wrote his reports to 
Congress and his letters to the Governors, pleading for their 
help for his starving men. Here came his officers, the Com- 
mittee from Congress and the countless ones who sought favors 
from the great commander. Here he learned of the Conway 

* That next to the door is the one mentioned. 



W A S H I N GTON 'S H EADOU ARTERS. 1 69 

Cabal and of the alliance with France. Here he spent the 
darkest days of his life and here he saw the dawn of the 
brightest ones. 

In this room should be read the following account which 
formed part of a letter of Mrs. Washington to Mrs. Lund 
Washington at Mount Vernon: "The general's headquarters 
have been made more tolerable by the addition of a log cabin 
to the house, built to dine in. The apartment for business is 
only about sixteen feet square, and has a large fireplace. The 
house is built of stone. The walls are very thick, and below 
a deep east window, out of which the general can look upon 
the encampment, he had a box made, which appears as a part 
of the casement, with a blind trap-door at top, in which he 
keeps his valuable papers." 

The room is even smaller than she imagined, being only 
about thirteen feet square. Washington's box for private papers 
is 10^2 inches deep. It is divided into two compartments 
<^y 2 inches wide, one 17 inches long and the other 16. 

This gives one a very good idea of the preservation of this 
old house. There is the east window out of which you can 
look toward the encampment. Washington could see the quar- 
ters of the life guard, and beyond them the huts of the 
Southern troops. The trap-door does not fit as perfectly as it 
did in those days, for since then thousands have taken it off 
and put it back. 

A very pretty story is told of how Mrs. Washington came 
here from Whitemarsh. "On that cold wintry journey to Val- 
ley Forge, Mrs. Washington rode behind her husband on a 
pillion. He was on his powerful bay charger and accompanied 
by a single aide-de-camp, followed the last remnant of the 
army that left the encampment at Whitemarsh." All of which is 
pure fiction. On the 1st of February, Washington wrote the 
following to John Parke Custis, his stepson : "Your mamma 
is not yet arrived, but if she left Mount Vernon on the twenty- 
sixth ultimo, as intended, may, I think, be expected every hour. 
Meade (Richard K. Meade, aide-de-camp to Washington) set 
off yesterday (as soon as I got notice of her intention) to meet 
her. We are in a dreary kind of a place, and uncomfortably 



I70 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

provided ; for other matters I shall refer you to the bearer, 
Colonel Fitzgerald (also an aide), who can give yon the oc- 
currences of the camp, &c, better than can be related in a let- 
ter." Mrs. Washington reached Valley Forge a day or two 
after this letter was written. In a letter to Mrs. Warren she 
said : "The general is in camp in what is called the great valley 
on the Banks of the Schuylkill. Officers and men are chiefly 
in Hutts, which they say is tolerable comfortable; the army 
are as healthy as can well be expected in general. The Gen- 
eral's apartment is very small; he has had a log cabin built to 
dine in, which has made our quarters much more tolerable than 
they were at first." 

The cupboard contains a number of relics, but the most 
interesting, on account of its association with the soldiers who 
were encamped here, is the old powder horn. While the army 
was starving a few head of cattle were driven into camp, and 
many of the men wanted the horns for powder horns. Wash- 
ington decided the matter by selecting a number between 1500 
and 2000, and allowing the men to guess it. One guessed cor- 
rectly, 1776. He and the nine who guessed numbers nearest 
to this were awarded the horns. Jabez Rockwell was one of 
these. He made sure of his prize by cutting his name on it, 
and later added the record of its use. The inscription is as 
follows : 

JABEZ ROCKWELL OF RIDGEBURV 

CONN. HIS HORN, MADE IN 

CAMP AT VALLEY FORGE 

FIRST USED AT MONMOUTH, JUNE 28. I778 

LAST AT YORK TOWN, I781 



The Second Floor. — The first room has been furnished by 
Valley Forge Chapter. D. A. R., with an interesting collection 
of antique furniture. 

There is no doubt in my mind that the front room was Mrs. 
Washington's, and that General Lee's baggage was deposited 
in the little room at the end of the hall. 



WASHINGTON S HEADQUARTERS. 



171 



Mrs. Henry Drinker, one of a committee of Friends which 
sought the release of those confined at Winchester, has left this 
record of her visit under the date of April 7th : "Arrived at 
HdQuarters, at about Yz past one. We requested an audience 
with the General, and sat with his wife (a sociable, pretty kind 
of woman), until he came in. A number of officers were there 
who were very complaisant, Tench Tilghman among ye rest. 



^ I , 












■ - 1 r 


■Wn OpV 


1. ICa-ilfcjHc 




I 


Hi ^fev.l 1 


i 




^ ■ Ki3*if ■ j. >**-~*^ —-i 







The Back Bedroom. 



It was not long before G. Washington came, and discoursed 
with us freely, but not so long as we could have wished, as 
dinner was served, to which he invited us. There were 15 Of- 
ficers, besides ye G. and his wife, Gen. Greene, and Gen. Lee. 
We had an elegant dinner, which was soon over, when we went 
out with ye Genls wife, up to her Chamber — and saw no more 
of him." 



1/2 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

This "sociable, pretty kind of woman" shared the burdens 
of her husband and most nobly seconded his efforts in behalf 
of the suffering soldiers. Mrs. Westlake, who lived near the 
headquarters, has left us a graphic picture of her laborious 
life at Valley Forge. She told Mr. Lossing, "I never in my life 
knew a woman so busy from early morning until late at night 
as was Lady Washington, providing comforts for the sick sol- 
diers. Every day, excepting Sunday, the wives of the officers 
in camp, and sometimes other women, were invited to Mr. 
Potts' to assist her in knitting socks, patching garments, and 
making shirts for the poor soldiers, when materials could be 
procured. Every fair day she might be seen, with basket in 
hand, and with a single attendant, going among the huts seek- 
ing the keenest and most needy sufferer, and giving all the 
comforts to them in her power. I sometimes went with her, 
for I was a stout girl, sixteen years old. On one occasion she 
went to the hut of a dying sergeant, whose young wife was 
with him. His case seemed to particularly touch the heart of 
the good lady, and after she had given him some wholesome 
food she had prepared with her own hands, she knelt down by 
his straw pallet and prayed earnestly for him and his wife 
with her sweet and solemn voice. I shall never forget the 
scene." 

The Garret. — The plaster on the ceiling of the garret is a 
modern addition. In the corner stands a Pennsylvania German 
dowry chest which bears the following inscription : 

CATARI 

NA GA 

CKEBACH 

I NAN NO 

1785 

The garret room once so uninteresting, lias been com- 
pletely furnished by Merion Chapter. Daughters of the 
American Revolution, which has named the apartment the 
"Round Window Room." The chapter has published a carefully 
prepared catalogue of the furnishings, with an account of the 
owners. The bedstead, once the property of Charles Thomson, 



WASHINGTON S HEADQUARTERS. 



1/3 



Secretary of the Continental Congress, is the property of the 
Valley Forge Centennial and Memorial Association. The arm- 
chair was brought from Wales by Dr. Thomas Wynne, Penn's 
physician, in 1682. The rocking-chair was owned by Col. Ed- 
ward Heston, and the portraits were painted by Isaac Heston, a 
"Revolutionary artificer," of himself and wife. The mahogany 
washstand, 150 years old, belonged to the mother of Capt. An- 
drew Geyer, and all the articles are of historic interest. 




The Kitchen. 

Descending to the first floor one should pass through the 
doorway which at the foot of the stairs opens into the passage 
to the kitchen. At one time this was supposed to be a much 
later addition, but examination showed that it was a part of 
the original structure. 



The Kitchen. — The kitchen is just what one would imag- 
ine should be a part of such a venerable building. In the 
great fireplace are the cranes, roasters, pots and skillets, and 
above it on the mantel shelf are candle molds, etc. Adjoining 
the kitchen is the log pump house, a modern addition. It is 



174 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

built over the entrance to what has been romantically called the 
"Passage to the River," and supposed to have formed a secret 
way by which Washington was to escape the British in case 
of an attack. A narrow passage leads down by thirteen steps 
to a vaulted cellar 14 feet 7 inches long, 10 feet 2 inches wide 
and 7 feet 10 inches high. It seems to have been the kitchen 
cellar. 

The Grounds. — The grounds about the headquarters are 
kept in excellent order and add greatly to the attractiveness of 
the spot. The Commission has removed the fence and built a 
low stone wall in front of the headquarters. 

Xear the house is an elm brought from Mount Vernon. A 
marker gives the following history of its origin: 

THIS ELM 

A SCION OF A TREE 

PLANTED AT MOUNT VERNON BY 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

WAS BROUGHT HERE AND PLANTED 

I.V DECEMBER l888 

BY THE STATE SECRETARY 

PATRIOTIC ORDER SONS OF AMERICA 

OF PENNSYLVANIA 



N? 




m - :\,& 




Valley Creek. 



THE VALLEY CREEK. 

THE Mill. — Opposite the house stood the grist mill of 
Isaac Potts. 
The old mill was destroyed by fire in the spring of 
1843, the fire being started by a spark from a locomotive. Mrs. 
Ogden, who owned the headquarters in 1874, said : "It stood near 
the railroad, and was much larger than the mill my father built 
higher up the race the next year, and which is now used as a 
paper mill. The old mill had very heavy massive timbers used 
in its building, which were unimpaired by time, and I heard 
say the burrs were the best in the country; they were all de- 
stroyed by the fire." 

Chevalier de Pontgibaud says that Washington used the 
mill as his headquarters, but I have not found anything to sus 
tain this statement, although it may have been used as an of- 
fice, being so close to the residence of the Commander-in-Chief. 

A piece of the old water wheel is preserved in the head- 
quarters. It is suspended over the doorway leading from the 
hall to the kitchen, and is of the greatest interest. 

It will well repay those who can afford the time to go up 
the road along Valley Creek. Not only is it a picturesque 
drive, but it affords such points of interest as the site of the old 
forge, the Valley Forge Farm and Lafayette's headquarters. 

Crossing the Gulph Road at the Washington Inn, and pass- 
ing the woolen mill, the road follows all the windings of 
the creek, the hillsides becoming more steep, until the nar- 
rowest point of the valley is reached, where the creek has cut 
its way between Mount Misery and Mount Joy. Less than a 
mile from the headquarters is the Washington Spring, of which 
Washington probably knew nothing. From this there is a path 
up to the boulevard on the heights. Beyond is the supposed site 
of the old forge. 

The Valley Forge. — Wherever the forge stood, it gave 
the name to the famous camp. It was built some time between 
December. 1742, and April, 1752, by Stephen Evans, Daniel 
Walker and Joseph Williams. Some time after 1751 a sawmill 

(1 76) 



THE VALLEY CREEK. 



177 



was built, and later the grist mill. The property came into the 
possession of John Potts, of Pottsgrove, the great ironmaster, in 
1757- Up to this time the forge had been called Mount Joy 
Forge, as it was located on Mount Joy Manor. For a while the 
old name was retained, but was gradually superseded by the 
more familiar one of Valley Forge, derived naturally from the 
Valley Creek, whose waters were used by the old iron workers. 




Suggested Site of the^Valley Forge. 



The property passed from John Potts to his son John, and from 
him to his brother Joseph, who, with his brother David and their 
cousin, Thomas Hockley, formed the firm of Potts, Hockley & 
Potts. The iron was brought from Warwick furnace in large 
quantities. At the time of the Revolution the property was 
owned by William Dewees, Jr., who seems to have carried on the 
works in connection with David Potts, who for nearly fifty 
years had sold in Philadelphia the bar iron made here. 



178 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE. 

When the British were at Valley Forge, September 18-21, 
1777, the forge was destroyed. Hidden in the thick woods on 
Mount Joy, Alexander Hamilton watched the destruction which 
he was powerless to prevent This gave the American soldiers 
an excuse to make inroads upon the buildings until they were 
checked by Washington. After the war the works were re- 
built farther down the stream, and were maintained until 1824, 
when they were allowed to fall into ruin. 

Perhaps one reason for the destruction of the forge, by the 
British is to be found in an old musket in the Valley Forge 
Museum. It was made at Valley Forge in 1777 for the Amer- 
ican army. 

Valley Forge Farm. — Less than a half-mile beyond the 
forge is Valley Forge Farm, the residence of the Hon. Philander 
C. Knox, Secretary of State, and Attorney-General under Presi- 
dent McKinley and President Roosevelt. A quaint covered 
bridge spans the creek where it leaves the Senator's grounds, 
and crossing it one passes at once from the wild woodland 
scenery to a landscape whose natural beauties have been en- 
hanced by the hand of man. The house occupied by the Secre- 
tary and his family is set amid well-kept lawns and is shaded 
by fine old trees. The best view of it is from the road just 
beyond the gateway. Of course visitors will not intrude upon 
the grounds. To the left, on the other side of the creek, is the 
old farmhouse which was the headquarters of General Knox. 

Lafayette's Headquarters. — To reach Lafayette's head- 
quarters turn to the left at the corner of the Secretary's grounds, 
and follow the road which skirts the lawns. This will soon 
descend to another bridge over Valley Creek. Just beyond this 
on the right stands the residence of Henry Wilson, which at 
the time of the encampment was owned by John Havard and 
occupied by Lafayette. The old house is in a splendid state of 
preservation. Visitors are not admitted. 

Marquis Marie Jean Paul Joseph Roche Yves Gilbert du 
Motier Lafayette was only twenty years old when he came to 
Valley Forge, having recently been appointed to succeed Gen. 
Adam Stephen. Inspired by a romantic interest in the struggle 



THE VALLEY CREEK. 1 79 

for liberty he had eluded French vigilance, fitted out a ship at 
his own expense and had come with Baron de Kalb and eleven 
other officers to offer his services to Congress. At first he 
served as a voluntary aide to Washington, and between them 
was formed that noble friendship which was an honor to them 
and their nations. 

Lafayette was a victim of the Conway Cabal at first, but 
as soon as he saw what it meant he withdrew in disgust from 
those whom he counted the enemies of their country. Here he 
wrote a letter whose truth, loyalty and open-heartedness must 
have been a boon to Washington in that dark hour. In it he 
thus pledges himself to Washington : "My desire of deserving 
your satisfaction is stronger than ever, and everywhere you 
will employ me you can be certain of my trying every exertion 
in my power to succeed. I am now fixed to your fate, and I 
shall follow it and sustain it as well by my sword as by all 
means in my power." 

One of the most interesting relics of Lafayette is the check 
for $120,000, paid to him by the United States as part of the 
$200,000 which he received for his services in the Revolution. 
This is preserved in the Valley Forge Museum of American 
History, together with letters and other relics of this devoted 
friend of America. 

The road just traversed is the shortest route to Valley 
Forge Station. Those who have more time and desire a dif- 
ferent route should turn to the right after passing through 
the covered bridge over Valley Creek, pass General Knox's 
headquarters, and turn to the left at the Centreville Road. At 
Fort Washington one can take the road on the left, the Camp 
Road, or follow the Centreville Road, here called Washington 
Lane, to the River Road. The first is shorter, as it soon strikes 
the Gulph Road, near the Front Line Boulevard. Turn to the 
left and follow the Gulph Road to the Washington Inn, and 
there turn to the right and pass the headquarters. By the 
second route, cross the Gulph Road and continue to the River 
Road. Turn to the left, and at the boulevard turn to the right. 

To reach either the Port Kennedy Station or the Betzwood 
Station, turn to the right at the River Road, pass the Waterman 
Monument and Washington Memorial Chapel. 



THE CENTENNIAL AND MEMORIAL ASSO- 
CIATION OF VALLEY FORGE. 

THE most important result of the celebration of the one 
hundredth anniversary of the Evacuation of Valley Forge 
was the determination to secure the headquarters as a 
memorial of that event. To accomplish this there was formed 
"The Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge," 
of which Mrs. Anna M. Holstein was elected regent. This 
association really carried forward the work of "The Valley 
Forge Centennial Association," which had so successfully ar- 
ranged for the celebration of the anniversary. The new asso- 
ciation appealed to patriotic citizens for contributions, and for 
every dollar contributed a certificate was issued giving the 
holder a share of stock in the association. The house and one 
and a half acres of land were purchased for $6000, one-half of 
which was secured by a mortgage. Despite the efforts of the 
members of the association it was unable to pay the interest, 
and an appeal was made to the Patriotic Order of the Sons of 
America at its convention in Norristown in 1885. I n a little 
more than six months the order paid off the mortgage and can- 
celed all the indebtedness of the association, receiving in re- 
turn 3600 shares of stock, and a voice in the management. 
Col. Theodore W. Bean, of Camp 114, did much toward the 
success of this movement by the publication of his "Footprints 
of the Revolution," first published in the "Camp News." The 
State of Pennsylvania appropriated $5000 to further the work 
of the association, and in 1887 the building was restored to its 
original condition, as far as possible, a warden's lodge was 
built, and the grounds improved. Additional ground was pur- 
chased in 1889 and in 1904. The association maintained the 
headquarters in an excellent manner, and was aided in this 
by a small admission fee. In the report of the Valley Forge 
Park Commission, in 1904, attention was called to this fee and 
the recommendation was made that the State acquire the prop- 
erty. This received favorable action and on August 15, 1905, the 

(1 80) 



MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 



181 



Commission took possession of the headquarters under the 
new powers given to it by the Legislature, paying the Association 
$18,000 for its property. Later the Commission made the claim 
that the money could not be distributed among the members of 
the Association, because the shares of stock were only receipts 
for money contributed for a charitable purpose. The courts 
sustained the claim of the Commission, which received the 
money as trustee. 




"Valley Forge." 



THE VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION. 

THE Valley Forge Park is the creation of the Valley Forge 
Park Commission which was appointed by the Assembly 
of the State of Pennsylvania June 8, 1893, under the Act 
of May 30th, of that year, which provided "for the acquisition by 
the State of certain ground at Valley Forge for a park." This 
bill was the result of an effort begun many years before by Mrs. 
Mary E. Thropp Cone, to whose schoolgirl verses America owes 
the preservation of the old Trappe Church. Born at Valley 
Forge, she loved its historic hills and plead for years for some 
monument to properly mark the neglected spot. She and her 
sister Amelia originated the Valley Forge Monument Associa- 
tion, which began work in 1882. Of this association Anthony J. 
Drexel, Jr., was the treasurer and George W. Childs, a charter 
member. Mrs. Cone and her friends appealed to Congress for 
aid, but in vain. Thereupon an effort was made to obtain a State 
appropriation, and this effort resulted in the Act of 1893. The 
idea of the monument was abandoned for that of a reservation 
by which the intrenchments would be preserved to the Nation. 

We do not know who first suggested the preservation of 
Valley Forge, but the Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker has pub- 
lished an interesting broadside in which he sets forth the work 
done by Dr. Isaac Anderson Pennypacker, who, as early as 1842 
wrote in behalf of the preservation of the encampment, and in 
1845 suggested the erection of a monument on Mount Joy. To 
this end he brought Daniel Webster, William H. Seward, Neal 
Dow and others to Valley Forge. In the effort to arouse pub- 
lic interest in Valley Forge no one has been more zealous than 
the author of the broadside, for as Commissioner and Governor, 
through writings and through speeches, he has striven to direct 
the attention of the American people to the place and its history. 

The first act passed by the Assembly provided $25,000 for 
the purpose of the Commission, and in 1895, $10,000 were ap- 
propriated. Including the 1909 appropriation, the State has 

(182) 



VALLEY FORGE PARK COMMISSION. 183 

appropriated $365,445 for Valley Forge. The park includes about 
650 acres. 

The Commission has done a noble work for the American 
people, and the Valley Forge Park is destined to become one 
of the greatest pleasure grounds in the country. The determi- 
nation to preserve the wooded heights in their rugged beauty, 
to leave the earthworks untouched, to make every part of the 
encampment accessible by well-kept walks and roads, and to 
guard every part of the reservation, are resolutions which must 
meet with the hearty approval of all visitors to Valley Forge. 
The Commission as now constituted is as follows : W. H. Sayen, 
President; John P. Nicholson, Vice-President; John W. Jordan, 
Secretary and Treasurer; J. P. Hale Jenkins, William A. Pat- 
ton, Richmond L. Jones, John W. Jordan, John T. Windrim, 
George J. Elliott and Edward F. Beale. Mr. Samuel S. Hart- 
ran ft is the Superintendent. The Office of the Commission is 
located in the house to the south of the Headquarters. The 
Philadelphia Office is 226 Commercial Trust Building. 




WASHINGTON AND VALLEY FORGE. 

"No spot on earth — not the plains of Marathon, nor the 
passes of Sempach, nor the place of the Bastile, nor the dykes 
of Holland, nor the moors of England, is so sacred in the his- 
tory of the struggle for human liberty as Valley Forge." — Cyrus 
Townsend Brady. 

HAVING made a tour of the encampment, it may well 
be asked, What impression is left on the minds of the 
visitor? All who think seem to feel the spell of the 
place. These hills make a subtle appeal to the best in man, 
and many go away pledged to a nobler effort in life. Valley 
Forge affects one as does no other place in the land. 

No better analysis of this characteristic power of Valley 
Forge has been made than that by Bishop Gibson, of Vir- 
ginia, who, in the course of his sermon at the opening of the 
Washington Memorial Chapel, said : 

"The chief distinction of Valley Forge is human, personal, 
individual, practical. In one word, it is spiritual. It grows out 
of the unintentional and unconscious display of a character. 
Need I say the character of Washington? Valley Forge was 
Washington's place of martyrdom. Never again in the course 
of a life filled with extraordinary experiences did this 'greatest 
of good men and best of great men,' who had accepted the 
office of commander-in-chief with unfeigned reluctance, and, 
because of his feeling that he was always liable to make mis- 
takes, was ready at any time to have his actions freely criticised 
by those from whom he had received his commission, never 
again, T say, did Washington pass through an ordeal so fiery 
as that which made Valley Forge for him and for many others 
the Valley of Decision. 'He that findeth his life shall lose it/ 
said the Master of Wisdom and of wise men — 'He that findeth 
his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake, 
shall find it.' On this spot Washington fought out the spiritual 
battle of his career, endured and triumphed in the majestic name 

(I8 4 ) 



WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE. 1 85 

of Duty; which is also the name of Him to whom all is due. 
When he turned his back on these scenes there was no longer 
any question as to who should command the armies of America, 
nor wps his heart again torn, as here, by the sight of troops 
under his own eye, starving and naked from neglect. And what 
is the result? He has become the genius of the place; invest- 
ing all we read with his own aura, supplying the clear atmos- 
phere through which each incident of the time is seen, clothing 
with the colors of actual vision every account of hospitals and 
huts, of wounds and bruises, of chilly, comfortless nights, and 
days of weakness from hunger. We see what he saw, we feel 
his emotions. Into our faces failure stares and treachery kisses 
us on the cheek. As the story moves on,* gathering force in 
its progress, we are drawn more closely to the hero. As troubles 
thicken about him, apparently unconscious of their presence, our 
anxiety deepens, the tension of our hearts grows rigid. He 
saved others, we say, but to save himself is beyond his power. 
And so it was. He was not tried to the limit of death or dis- 
grace, but he was tried so sorely as to make him one of the 
exemplars of mankind. To secure independence for his country 
he suffered that which made him a great moral luminary for the 
world. The exhibition of the character of Washington is the 
crowning glory of Valley Forge." 




Tablet on Pennsylvania 

Memorial Columns. 



INDEX 



Artillery Park 144 

Bakehouse 162-164 

Betzwood Station, P. R. R 5, 96, 158 

Brigades — 

Conway's I37"I39 

Clover's 107, 108 

Huntington's 136, 137 

Learned's 107 

Maxwell's 140, 141, 152-156 

Mcintosh's 160, 161 

Muhlenberg's 98-101 

Patterson's 105, 106 

Poor's 116-118 

Scott's 125, 126 

Varnum's 32-44 

Wayne's 1 18-120 

Weedon's 101, 102 

Woodford's 147, 148 

British Army at Valley Forge 14, 15, 22, 26 

Camp School 139, 140 

Cemetery, Washington Memorial 33~35 

Centennial and Memorial Association 180, 181 

Chapel, Washington Memorial 45-8i 

Cloister of the Colonies 45-57 

Commander-in-Chief's Door 60 

Conway Cabal 18, 137, 138, 139 

Defenders' Gate 30-33 

Delaware Memorial 24 

Divisions — 

DeKalb's 104-107 

Greene's 100-104 

Stirling's 137, 138 

Sullivan's 121, 141, 160 

(187) 



J 88 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE 



Door of the Allies 69, 70 

Evacuation Day Celebrations 25, 26, 34, 48, 91-93 

Fatland Ford 14, 23, 26-29 

Flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the American 

Army 85, 86, 88, 89 

French Alliance 19, 31, 32, 156 

Graves of the Soldiers . 34, 39, 41, 42, 132, 137, 138, 152, 157, 158 

Headquarters — 

DeKalb's 102 

Huntington's 44 

Knox's 126-128 

Lafayette's 178, 179 

Morgan's 98 

Muhlenberg's 100, 101 

Varnum's 29, 31. 32 

Washington's — 

First, the Marquee 87, 88, 135, 141, 144 

Second, the Potts House 160-174 

Weedon's 101, 102 

Hospitals 31, 2>7, 119, 130, 132, 160 

Huts 22, 28, 35-38 

Inauguration Door 70 

Intrenchments 23, 25, 125, 149-152 

Lafayette's Check 19, 86 

Lafayette's Headquarters 178, 179 

Library, Washington Memorial 89-91 

Life Guard 21, 23, 65 

Maine Marker 106, 107 

"Maine" Memorial 89 

Maps — 

Encampment at Valley Forge. Insert. Phoenixville, 

Valley Forge and Strafford Railway 9 

Points of Interest at Valley Forge 11 

Relation of the Reading Station to the Points of Interest. .7 
Markers — 

ioo. 102. 105. 107. 117. 121, 122, 128, 137, 138, 140, 141, 160 

Brigade 33, 94"97, 101 

State 24, 25, 106, 108-112, 118-120, 152-156 

Markets '. 29 

Marquee. Washington's 87, 88, 134. 141^144 

Mill. Grist 176 

Monuments — 

New Jersey 152-156 

Massachusetts . 108-112 



INDEX 189 

To Unknown Dead 40-44, 129, 130 

Waterman 40-44 

Wayne 122-124 

Mount Joy Observatory 145-149 

Museum of American History 83-89 

National Arch 97, 113-117 

Observatory 145-149 

Office, Valley Forge Park Commission 166, 183 

Patriots' Hall 81-89 

Pennsylvania Columns 1 18-120 

Pews of the Patriots 62-67 

Pickets 29 

Picnic Grounds 94, 158 

Points of Interest at Valley Forge 8 

Porch of the Allies 81-84 

Port Kennedy Station, Reading Railway 21, 96, 158 

President Roosevelt's Valley Forge Address. ..33, 34, 63, 91, 92 

President's Pew 63, 65 

Provost Guard 95 

Redoubts — 

Huntington 157, 158 

Star 31, 32 

Washington 146, 147 

Right Line Boulevard 98, 134 

Roof of the Republic 80, 81 

Schoolhouse, Old . . . 139, 140 

Stations — 

. Betzwood 5, 96, 158 

Port Kennedy 5, 21, 96, 158 

Valley Forge 5, 21, 114, 158 

Statues — • 

Steuben 127-129 

Wayne 122-124 

Washington 12, 72, 181 

Steuben Monument 127-129 

Steuben's Kitchen 38-41 

Sufferings at Valley Forge 17, 18, 115, 117, 121, 130-132 

Sullivan's Bridge 26-29 

Surprise View 148 

Thanksgiving Tower 81-83 

Valley Creek 175-179 

"Valley Forge" The Statuette 12, 72, 181 

Valley Forge, The 176-178 

Valley Forge Farm 178 



I90 GUIDE TO VALLEY FORGE 

Valley Forge Imp 134, 144 

Valley Forge in American History 83-89 

Valley Forge Park Commission 166, 182, 183 

Valley Forge Picnic Grounds 95, 158 

Valley Forge Station, Philadelphia & Reading ... 5, 21, 114, 158 

Washington, George — 

Accounts 22 

Appearance 143, 144, 159 

Defense of His Soldiers 143 

Headquarters 87-89, 135, 141-144, 160-174 

Marquee 87-89, 135, 141-144 

Memorial 45-96 

Prayer for the Nation 58, 77 

Prayer at Valley Forge 73, 74 

Spirit 184, 185 

Statue 12, 72, 181 

Valedictory Prayer 58 

Washington, Martha 168, 171 

Washington, Memorial 45-96 

Washington Memorial Cemetery 33"35 

Washington Memorial Chapel 45-81 

Washington Memorial Door 60 

Washington Memorial Library 89-91 

Washington-Burk Memorial 12, 72, 171 

Washington-Sullivan Font 60-62 

Washington Redoubt 146, 147 

Washington-Wanamaker Altar and Reredos 75~77 

Washington-Wood Pulpit, Perclose and Lectern ". 70-72 

Washiniton's Coffin Plate 76 

Washington's Headquarters 87, 89, 135, 141-144, 160-174 

Washington's Headquarters Flag 85-89 

Washington's Marquee 87, 89, 135, 141-144 

Washington's Medicine Chest 86 

Washington's Rifle * 86 

Waterman Monument 40-44 

Wayne Monument 122-124 

White, Bishop 79, 80 

Woodland Cathedral 50-86 



